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Plants / Rosette & Background
Vallisneria americana
Rosette & Background · Tough

Vallisneria americana

Vallisneria australis

Tall, broad vallisneria with ribbon leaves. Very hardy and fast-spreading.

Check your local laws. NZ: Eel grass (Vallisneria australis; NZ lists V. spiralis and V. gigantea as synonyms) is an Unwanted Organism under MPI. It cannot be sold, propagated or released in New Zealand. Never throw it into ponds, rivers or drains.

Needs

Care levelEasy
LightLow
CO₂Not needed
GrowthFast
HeightUp to 150 cm
Temperature18–28 °C
WhereBack of the tank
Feeds throughRoots (use root tabs)
FamilyHydrocharitaceae
Native toSouthern and eastern Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia (for V. australis, the plant sold as jungle val)
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. See sources

How to keep it

  • Nutrient-rich substrate (runners are prolific when the bottom is nutritious)
  • Large, tall tanks
  • Prune long leaves so they don't shade plants beneath
  • Lack of nutrients

Sources

15 facts checked with sources