Vallisneria australis (Australian Eelgrass) Care Guide
Vallisneria australis is a tall ribbon-leaved Australian eelgrass (Hydrocharitaceae), a hardy background plant that spreads by runners across a wide pH range.
Overview
Vallisneria australis, the Australian eelgrass or ribbonweed, is a submerged perennial herb of the family Hydrocharitaceae with long, strap-like ribbon leaves. It is a hardy background plant for tall aquaria, spreading by stolons to form underwater meadows.
Taxonomy
- Family: Hydrocharitaceae
- Genus: Vallisneria
- Scientific name: Vallisneria australis
- Common names: Australian eelgrass, ribbonweed, eelweed
Habitat
The species occurs in freshwater lakes, rivers and irrigation channels in Australia. It is a tufted, stoloniferous perennial whose linear leaves reach up to about 3 m long and 11-35 mm wide. The genus is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants and female flowers reaching the water surface on long stalks.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 16-28 °C (61-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-8.2
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- Maximum height: up to 100 cm
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: not required
- Placement: background
Growth and care
Growth is fast and the plant is undemanding, tolerating cool to warm and moderately hard water across a wide pH range. The long leaves suit tall display tanks where they can reach the surface without being trimmed.
Propagation
It propagates vegetatively through runners, producing daughter plants at the nodes that can be separated and replanted.