Plant Profiles

Lilaeopsis brisbanica

Live freshwater plant Lilaeopsis brisbanica - Brisbane River Grasswort for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Lilaeopsis brisbanica - Brisbane River Grasswort. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Lilaeopsis brisbanica
Brisbane River Grasswort
$15.95

Lilaeopsis brisbanica, the Brisbane River Grasswort, is an attractive, low growing native carpeting plant. It is quite a hardy species, and grows well in both fresh and brackish water aquariums. This species has bright green leaves and grows quickly across the substrate.

Unforunately, there has been a lot of confusion over the years in regards to this species, with many places selling other species as the Brisbane River Grasswort. These are almost always not the true native species, and the same goes for plants sold under the erroneous name Lilaeopsis brisbaniensis.

This is the true native Lilaeopsis brisbanica, a distinct species to the commonly misidentified Lilaeopsis brasiliensis that is often mislabeled as Lilaeopsis brisbanica. Luckily, this species actually looks very different to Lilaeopsis brasiliensis and is easy to tell apart. Brisbane River Grasswort looks more like a tiny Lilaeopsis polyantha than L. brasiliensis. The leaves are hollow and tubular rather than the flat leaves of L. brasiliensis, and they have a slight curl to them. The leaves are also lightly segmented, and so have a distinct look. It also grows a fair bit shorter, with leaves that get down to only 1.5cm high in high light, and to 6cm high in low to medium light.

If you are unsure of what Lilaeopsis species you have, just remember that all native Australian lilaeopsis species (Lilaeopsis brisbanica, Lilaeopsis polyantha and Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae) have hollow tubular leaves, while the South American species, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, has flat leaves.

This grassy plant is an excellent choice for aquascaping and can quickly spread by runners to cover the entire substrate. It looks best when grown in a nutrient-rich substrate and under bright lighting, where it can form a dense, almost lawn-like appearance. This species grows best in water with a pH from 5.5-9, with temperatures between 15-30°C.

If you're looking for an easy-to-care-for native plant that can transform the look of your aquarium foreground, consider adding the Brisbane River Grasswort to your collection. Its hardy nature and lush appearance make it an excellent choice for both experienced and beginner aquarists looking to create a stunning aquascape.

Requirements and information

Temperature:

TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:

CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:

Medium

Water nutrients:

Medium

Light demand:

Medium

CO2:

Medium

Height:

Low

Growth rate:

Slow

Growth habit:

Creeping

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Native to: