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Rosette Plants
Plant Care and Plant Pictures for Rosettes

Madagascar Lace Plant Aponogeton madagascariensis Photo © Animal-World

   Rosette plants are those that have a shortened stem axis and tend to be more ornamental!

   Rosette Plants are the ornamental plants of the aquarium. These plant structure of the rosettes are described as having a 'shortened stem axis' which creates very beautiful leafy plant. They can be used in groups or can be used individually as a stand alone plant. A single rosette plant can be the stunning focal point in your aquarium design.

   Most of the Rosette plants are lattice plants and require more specialized plant care than the other groups for good plant growth. They reproduce asexually by runners and most will grow emersed under water and produce flowers. Environmental requirements include: soft, slightly acidic water ( pH of 5.5-6.5 and 2-3° CH), abundantly available fertilization, and cooler temperatures (60-72° F).

Click on the small images below to learn more about each type of plant.

   Some aquarium plants deserve mention because they tend to be hardy handsome plants. In general these are easy aquarium plants to keep with normal plant care, tolerating a wide variety of water conditions and will fit in either small or large aquariums, They need moderate light for plant growth and propagate freely without aid. Here are a few of the rosette plants that tend to fit this description:

• Calla Lily Family - Crypts: One group of rosettes, the Calla Lily family (Araceae) includes many of the choicest aquarium plants, being slow growing and permanent. Most of these are in the Cryptocoryne genus, called 'Crypts'. The Prolific Crypt, Cryptocoryne affinis, is a large gracerful plant, and is the fastest growing and most prolific of the Cryptocoryne. The Wendt's Cryptocoryne, Cryptocoryne wendtii, is another good choice and has beautiful red/green coloration.
  
  
• Sagittaria: There are several good varieties Sagittaria. They form a rich green grass with most growing from between 3" to 12" high, and do well in either cool or warm aquariums with good light. The Dwarf Sagittaria, Sagittaria subulata, is one of the rosette plants that is easy to grow. It will do well in most aquariums and can reach up to 16" in height.
  
  
• Vallisneria: The Vallisneria varieties tend to be hardy, long lived plants. The Giant Vallisneria, Vallisneria gigantea, stands with a tall plant structure having long narrow upright leaves. It is a good choice as a background plant as is the Jungle Vallis, Vallisneria americana, also known as Tapegrass or Water Celery The Straight Vallisneria, Vallisneria spiralis, (also called the Corkscrew Vallisneria) forms a pretty light green grass that can be straight or somewhat twisted. It is another hardy plant, but it must get good light (preferably from the side) and water that's not too soft.
  
  
• Floating Plants: Some of the rosettes are floating plants and work great for a surface cover, and they also offer a place for fish fry to hide. Duckweed, Lemna minor, is a good example of a floating plant that is extremely easy to keep with good plant growth, though it will need to be thinned regularly so it doesn't cover the entire surface of your aquarium.
  

   See a listing of the Types of Rosette Plants below:

For Information on setting up and keeping a planted aquarium see:
About Planted Aquariums, Adding Aquatic Plants For a Healthy Aquarium

Amazon Swordplant	Broadleaved Swordplant
Echinodorus amazonicus	Echinodorus bleheri
Duckweed	Dwarf Anubias
Lemna minor	Anubias nana
Dwarf Lily	Dwarf Swordplant
Nymphaea stellata	Echinodorus quadricostatus
Giant Vallisneria	Jungle Vallis
Vallisneria gigantea	Vallisneria americana
Madagascar Lace Plant	Micro-Sword Grass
Aponogeton madagascariensis	Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Orchid Lily	Ozelot Sword Plant
Barclaya longifolia	Echinodorus schlueteri
Pygmy Chain Swordplant	Ruby Melon Swordplant
Echinodorus tenellus	Echinodorus barthi
Ruffled Amazon Swordplant	Straight Vallisneria
Echinodorus major	Vallisneria spiralis
Undulated Crypt	Water Hyacinth
Cryptocoryne undulata	Eichhornia crassipes
Water Lily	Water Onion Plant
Nymphaea sp.	Crinum thaianum
Wendts Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne wendtii

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~ Types of Rosette Plants ~

Anubias barteri
Aponogeton bouvianus
Aponogeton crispus
Aponogeton elongatus
Aponogeton madagascariensis - Madagascar Lace Plant
Aponogeton rigidifolius
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Aponogeton undulatus
Barclaya longifolia - Orchid Lily
Crinum natans - Onion Bulb
Cryptocoryne affinis - Prolific Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne balansae
Cryptocoryne becketii
Cryptocoryne cordata - Trumpet Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne lutea
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Cryptocoryne walkeri
Cryptocoryne wendtii - Wendt's Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne willisii - Willis' Cryptocoryne
Echinodorus amazonicus - Amazon Sword Plant
Echinodorus bleheri
Echinodorus cordifolius - Swordplant, Creeping Burhead, or Radican Sword
Echinodorus horemanni
Echinodorus major/maior - Ruffle Sword
Echinodorus osiris - Melon Sword
Echinodorus paniculatus
Echinodorus parviflorus - Tropic Sword
Echinodorus tenellus, quadricostatus - Pygmy Chain Sword
Lemna - Duckweed, Green Plague
Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae - Micro Sword
Nuphar - Spatterdock
Nymphaea - Water Lily, Tiger Lotus
Nymphaea lotus - Lotus Lily, Egyptian Water Lily, Egyptian Lily, White Lily
Nymphoides aquatica - Big Floating Heart, Banana Plant
Pistia stratiotes - Water Lettuce
Sagittaria - Sag, Arrowhead
Sagittaria subulata - Dwarf Sagittaria, Narrow Leaf Sag, Hudson Sagittaria, Ribbon Wapato
Samolus parviflorus - Water Pimpernel
Vallisneria gigantea - Giant Vallisneria
Vallisneria spiralis - Corkscrew Vallisneria
Wolffia - Watermea

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