Vallisneria (Eelgrass) care guide
Vallisneria spiralis / V. americana (trade stock often misidentified) · Hydrocharitaceae
Vallisneria (Eelgrass) (Vallisneria spiralis / V. americana (trade stock often misidentified)) is an aquatic plant. It belongs to the Hydrocharitaceae family. It is native to V. spiralis: southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East to South Asia. It needs low to medium light. Water temperature: 20°C – 28°C. pH: 6.0 – 8.0. Care difficulty: Very Easy. Growth rate: fast (spreads by runners).
How do you care for Vallisneria (Eelgrass)?
| Light | Low to Medium (grows in almost any light; strong light turns some forms such as 'Tiger' reddish) |
|---|---|
| CO₂ | Not required |
| Temperature | 20°C – 28°C |
| pH | 6.0 – 8.0 |
| Placement | Background – tall ribbon leaves |
| Growth | Fast (spreads by runners) |
| Difficulty | Very Easy |
| Family | Hydrocharitaceae |
How do you trim and propagate Vallisneria (Eelgrass)?
Cut over-long leaves at the base (don’t trim the tips — cut edges turn brown); remove unwanted runners. Propagate from the daughter plants on the runners.
What problems affect Vallisneria (Eelgrass)?
Leaf melt after above-label doses of liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde) — Seachem found normal maintenance doses were tolerated; cut leaf ends rot back.
How do you fix Vallisneria (Eelgrass) problems?
Don't overdose liquid carbon; remove whole leaves at the base instead of trimming tips. It does well in harder, carbonate-rich water.
Where does Vallisneria (Eelgrass) come from?
V. spiralis: southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East to South Asia (east to Myanmar/Thailand); V. americana: eastern & central North America (some sources extend it to Central America and the Caribbean)
What should you know before buying Vallisneria (Eelgrass)?
Never release into waterways. V. spiralis is an "unwanted organism" in New Zealand (no sale, propagation or distribution) and rated High risk by the US Fish & Wildlife Service; it is naturalised in parts of Europe, Texas, Hawaii and New Zealand, and hybrids of likely aquarium origin are established in Florida and Alabama.
Sources
- Vallisneria spiralis L. — Kew – Plants of the World Online
- Vallisneria americana Michx. — Kew – Plants of the World Online
- Tape Grass (Vallisneria spiralis) Ecological Risk Screening Summary — U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (2025)
- Vallisneria spiralis — Wikipedia
- Vallisneria americana — Wikipedia
- Vallisneria spiralis — Flowgrow aquatic plant database
- Vallisneria americana — Flowgrow aquatic plant database
- Vallisneria spiralis 'Tiger' – plant details — Tropica
- Vallisneria spiralis 'Tiger' (article) — Tropica
- Vallisneria americana 'Natans' – plant details — Tropica
- Flourish Excel — Seachem
Care details checked against these sources on 2026-09-23.
Which aquascapes and tanks use Vallisneria (Eelgrass)?
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