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Banana plant
Nymphoides aquatica (J.F.Gmel.) Kuntze
Thick, banana-shaped storage roots sit at the base of small, round, notched leaves that look like mini water-lily pads; it readily sends leaves to the surface.
Needs
Care levelHard
LightMedium
CO₂Helps
GrowthSlow
HeightUp to 15 cm
Temperature20–26 °C
WhereFront of the tank
Feeds throughRoots (use root tabs)
FamilyMenyanthaceae
Native toSouth-eastern USA coastal plain, Delaware/Maryland to Florida and west to Texas (introduced in Massachusetts)
How to keep it
- Leave most of the banana roots above the substrate
- Medium to high light
- Burying the banana roots completely
- Heavy shade
Sources
13 facts checked with sources
- Scientific namePOWO: Nymphoides aquatica (J.F.Gmel.) Kuntze · Flowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- FamilycorrectedPOWO: Nymphoides aquatica (J.F.Gmel.) Kuntze · Flowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- Native rangecorrectedPOWO: Nymphoides aquatica (J.F.Gmel.) Kuntze · Flowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- LightFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) · The Barr Report knowledge base: Nymphoides aquatica
- CO₂correctedThe Barr Report knowledge base: Nymphoides aquatica · Flowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- GrowthcorrectedFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) · The Barr Report knowledge base: Nymphoides aquatica
- Care levelcorrectedFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) · The Barr Report knowledge base: Nymphoides aquatica
- HeightFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) · The Barr Report knowledge base: Nymphoides aquatica
- TemperaturecorrectedFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- Where to plantFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- Water or land plantcorrectedFlowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) · UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Nymphoides aquatica · Wikipedia: Nymphoides aquatica (cultivation section cites Speichert, Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants, 2004)
- AboutcorrectedUF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Nymphoides aquatica · Flowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)
- Care tipscorrectedWikipedia: Nymphoides aquatica (cultivation section cites Speichert, Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants, 2004) · Flowgrow: Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant)