Description
Italian Vallisneria ( Vallisneria spiralis ) is a hardy and fast-growing freshwater aquarium plant known for its long, narrow green leaves and graceful, flowing growth. This beginner-friendly plant is an excellent choice for creating a natural background or tall curtain of greenery in freshwater aquariums. Italian Vallisneria grows readily when planted in the substrate and spreads through runners, allowing new plants to develop around the original plant. It is adaptable to a wide range of aquarium conditions and does not require CO₂ supplementation, making it a great choice for low-tech planted tanks.
Temperature: 64–82°F (18–28°C)
Placement: Background
Difficulty: Easy
Growth Rate: Fast
Lighting: Low to Moderate
pH: 6.5–8.5
Water Hardness: Soft to Hard; performs especially well in harder, carbonate-rich water
Substrate: Standard aquarium substrate; nutrient-rich substrate is beneficial
Fertilizer: Root nutrients and liquid fertilizer can encourage faster, fuller growth; CO₂ not required
Propagation: Runners (stolons) that produce new plantlets
Maximum Size: Up to 24+ inches
Approximate Shipping Size: 6–12 inches
