Flora & Fauna

Rare and highly sought-after Eriocaulon with long, feathery white-green leaves that fan out like a plume. A collector's plant demanding very soft, slightly acidic water and strong light. Breathtaking when healthy.

Elegant plant with very fine, grass-like submerged leaves. Creates a soft, wispy texture perfect for natural-style aquascapes. Tolerates cool water well and can be used in temperate tanks.

Premium aquatic moss with large, firm fronds resembling tiny ferns. Grows slowly but produces a striking, almost sculptural texture unlike any other moss. Attach to rock or wood; requires high flow and clean water.

Flame Moss gets its name from the way its upright, twisted stems spiral and curve upward — resembling flickering orange flames when viewed in flowing water. Unlike most mosses that grow laterally, Flame Moss grows vertically, making it uniquely suited for mid-height mounding effects on rocks and wood. It is slow growing but compact, rarely requiring trimming, and stays tidy in low-flow areas.

The four-leaf clover aquatic fern produces charming four-lobed leaves that resemble tiny clover on short stalks. It can be grown as a compact foreground carpet in high-light CO2 tanks, or left to grow taller as a decorative mid-ground plant in low-tech setups. A unique texture plant that adds whimsy to any scape.

Lush, feathery stem plant with large whorls of finely divided leaves. Fast-growing background plant that creates a spectacular bushy effect. Needs good light and CO2.

Baby Tears or Pearl Grass, this cheerful stem plant produces tiny, round, bright green leaves and grows fast even without CO2. Ideal for mid-ground mounds or as a floating plant for shrimp tanks. Often confused with HC Cuba but its leaves are larger and it is far more tolerant of low-tech conditions.

A larger Bacopa species with distinctive clasping (amplexicaul) leaves that wrap around the stem at the base. The blue-violet flowers it produces above the waterline are among the most attractive of any aquarium plant. Submerged leaves are broad and light green, giving it a lush, robust appearance. Grows quickly and is very adaptable — excellent as an emersed pond margin plant or fully submerged background plant.

The tallest commonly kept Eleocharis species, producing stiff, dark green needle-like blades up to 30–50 cm tall. Creates a dramatic, grass-like background that mimics riparian meadows. Unlike dwarf hairgrasses, it does not form a dense carpet but instead grows as individual clumps. Very undemanding and one of the few Eleocharis that thrives without CO₂ injection. Excellent for paludarium setups or tall tanks where vertical structure is desired.

Rotala Macrandra is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful red plants in the hobby, with broad, crinkled leaves that turn vibrant crimson under optimal conditions. It is also one of the most demanding stem plants, requiring very high light, injected CO2, intensive macro and micro nutrient dosing, and soft acidic water — any deficiency quickly manifests as yellowing or failure to colour up. Rewarding for experienced planted tank keepers.

Glossostigma elatinoides was one of the first foreground carpeting plants popularised by Takashi Amano in the Nature Aquarium style. Its tiny spoon-shaped leaves form an extremely low, dense green carpet when grown under high light with CO2. Without strong light it grows upward rather than creeping, defeating the purpose. It is one of the most demanding carpeting plants but produces one of the most pristine, turf-like results when conditions are ideal.

Known as Guppy Grass or Najas Grass, this fast-growing, fine-leaved plant is a superb filtration plant and spawning medium. It floats freely or can be weighted down. Its vigorous growth absorbs excess nutrients, helping combat algae. Very tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.

Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' (HC Cuba) holds the record as the smallest-leaved aquatic carpeting plant, with each leaf barely 0.5 mm across and stems rarely exceeding 3 cm. Under optimal conditions of high light, CO2, and soft water it forms an impossibly dense, bright-green lawn that is the holy grail of foreground carpets in aquascaping. Extremely demanding and unforgiving of parameter fluctuations, it is best suited to experienced, high-tech setups.

Marsilea Hirsuta is a low-maintenance carpet plant that produces small, clover-like leaves on short stems. It spreads via runners to form a lush, medium-height green carpet without requiring CO2 injection — making it one of the easiest carpet plants for low-tech tanks. Leaves grow taller without CO2 but stay compact with it.

A delicate stem plant with tiny, round-to-oval bright green leaves growing in whorls of 3–4 around thin stems. Often confused with H. micranthemoides but has slightly larger leaves and a more upright growth habit. Grows quickly with CO₂ and high light, producing dense, bushy clumps that work well as a background planting. Without CO₂ it grows slowly and may become leggy. Regular trimming encourages compact, lush growth.

Hornwort is one of the most adaptable aquatic plants available, surviving in a wide range of conditions from cold ponds to tropical tanks. It requires no substrate and can float or be anchored. It grows rapidly, absorbing nutrients, and provides excellent cover for fry.

A compact variant of pennywort that produces small, neatly round, bright green leaves on short stems. Unlike the faster-growing H. tripartita, it has a more controlled growth habit and can be used as a delicate foreground or mid-ground filler. It adapts readily to CO2 and non-CO2 tanks alike.

Hydrocotyle tripartita is a fast-growing stem plant with unique three-lobed leaves that create a lush, dense carpet or mid-ground cluster. With CO2 and high light it forms tight mounds. Without CO2 it grows taller and more open. Very popular in aquascaping.

A robust cultivar with unusually wide, wavy-edged leaves that give a bold, architectural presence in the background. The large leaf surface collects bubbles during pearling, making it a favourite for photography. Very easy to grow and tolerant of low-tech conditions.

A variegated cultivar with creamy white, pink, and green patterning on the leaves — the colours intensify under stronger light. A favourite in Dutch and community planted tanks for adding colour without the difficulty of true red plants. Stays compact and bushy with regular trimming.

A narrow-leaved Hygrophila with long, willowy green leaves held in whorls along upright stems. Grows faster than most Hygrophila species and provides a graceful, flowing texture in the background. The fine leaf texture contrasts well with broad-leaved plants like Anubias or Cryptocoryne. Easy to grow in most conditions — one of the few Hygrophilas that maintains its narrow, elegant leaf form even in low tech.

A striking stem plant with ultra-narrow, needle-like leaves that turn deep red-purple under high light and CO₂. The fine, dense foliage creates a delicate, feathery texture rarely seen in other stem plants. Grows quickly and benefits from regular trimming to maintain a bushy appearance. The colour is highly dependent on light intensity — low light produces mostly green growth. One of the most popular plants in competitive aquascaping.

A cultivar of the Temple Plant with shorter internodal spacing, producing a denser, bushier plant than the standard species. Large, bright green leaves are held close to the stem, giving it a robust, architectural look in the midground or background. One of the easiest stem plants to grow — thrives in low-tech tanks and is very forgiving of neglect. A great beginner plant that still looks impressive in mature scapes.

A standout aquascape plant with oak-like lobed leaves that are dark green on top and purple-red beneath. Unlike most Hygrophilas it can be attached to hardscape like Anubias. Under high light and CO2 the purple coloration intensifies dramatically, making it one of the most visually striking stem plants available.

A compact, attractive cultivar of Hygrophila siamensis with narrower, slightly undulated leaves that are bright green on top and pale on the underside. Very hardy and fast growing, it works well as a mid-background filler and helps suppress algae through nutrient uptake. Trims well and stays bushy.

The base species of the popular lancea group. A delicate, fine-stemmed plant with small, narrow lance-shaped leaves that grow in tight whorls around the stem. Under high light the leaves develop attractive reddish-pink tones. More compact and slower growing than most Hygrophilas, making it well-suited for the midground of Nature Aquarium and Iwagumi layouts.

An ultra-compact cultivar of H. lancea that stays exceptionally small — typically under 5 cm — making it one of the few true foreground stem plants. Leaves are tiny, needle-like, and can blush red or pink under strong lighting and good CO2. Ideal for nano tanks and detailed foreground work in competitive aquascapes.

A Taiwanese-bred cultivar with slightly broader leaves than the Araguaia form and notably more vivid red-pink coloration. Stays compact and dense with regular trimming and responds well to high light and CO2 by turning a deep wine-red. A sought-after plant in the ADA-style planted tank community.

The quintessential beginner stem plant — grows rapidly in almost any conditions without CO2. Under high light the leaves take on a pink hue. Excellent as a background filler or for fishrooms and breeding tanks.

Delicate stem plant with rounded, lobed leaves on long stems. Prefers cool water — one of the best plants for temperate and coldwater aquascapes. Sends floating leaves to the surface when established.

Java fern is one of the most forgiving aquatic plants, thriving under low light without CO2 injection. It must be attached to hardscape rather than planted in substrate, as burying the rhizome will cause it to rot. New plantlets emerge from the edges of mature leaves, making propagation effortless.

Java Fern Narrow Leaf is a cultivar of the standard Java Fern with significantly narrower, lance-shaped leaves that create a finer, more graceful texture in aquascapes. It reaches 20–30 cm in height and works beautifully as a midground plant where a more delicate silhouette is desired. Care is identical to regular Java Fern — attach to hardscape, never bury the rhizome, and it will grow steadily under low to medium light.

Java Fern Windelov is a distinctive cultivar with finely branched, feathery leaf tips that give it a lacy, coral-like appearance unlike any other aquatic plant. Named after Tropica founder Holger Windelov, it is a classic of the hobby. The ornate leaf structure adds exceptional texture to midground hardscape and is particularly striking when highlighted from above. Care is identical to standard Java Fern.

Java moss is an incredibly versatile moss that can be tied to driftwood, rocks, or left free-floating. It provides excellent cover for fry and shrimp and serves as a natural grazing surface. It tolerates a very wide range of conditions and requires no CO2 or specialised fertilisation.

A dwarf, slow-growing variant that stays short and bushy — typically under 15 cm — making it suitable for the midground of small to medium tanks. Leaves are wider and rounder than the standard form. Reliable and low-maintenance.

Bacopa caroliniana is a robust, easy-going stem plant with rounded, fleshy leaves arranged in whorls along upright stems. Under high light the leaves develop a golden to pale-pink tinge; under low light they remain mid-green. It has a distinctive lemon scent when leaves are crushed. A reliable background or mid-background plant for community tanks and an excellent beginner stem plant that tolerates a wide range of conditions.