Plant Profiles

Nymphoides indica

Live freshwater plant Nymphoides indica - Water Snowflake for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Nymphoides indica - Water Snowflake. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Nymphoides indica
Water Snowflake
$7.95

Nymphoides indica is a versatile aquatic plant that can thrive in both aquariums and ponds. It is a native Australian species that is easy to care for and adds a unique look to any aquatic setup. It is also commonly known as Water Snowflake, or by the name Banana Lily or Banana Plant (a name shared with Nymphoides aquatica). It gets this name from its unique clustering banana-like tubers, and works great as a foreground plant.

In the aquarium this plant grows with a rosette of small heart-shaped leaves that grow from the tuber. It is best planted in the substrate, but can also be placed out among hardscaping elements, to create a natural look, as long as adequete water column nutrients are provided. It is a fast-growing plant that requires regular pruning to maintain its shape and size. If adventitious leaves are allowed to reach the surface, the plant will eventually lose its underwater leaves and its characteristic shape. It can be reverted back however by regularly removing existing floating leaves and any subsequent leaves heading for the surface. Supplemental CO2 will encourage the plant to develop a bushier underwater form, with glossy green leaves up to 5cm wide.

In ponds, Water Snowflake will start to produce floating leaves that eventually turn into large heart-shaped lilypads. These leaves add a beautiful aesthetic to any pond and will often produce white flowers with yellow centers. When grown in the right conditions, Water Snowflake can propagate quickly, providing shelter for fish and other aquatic creatures in the pond, while also creating shade which can reduce algae. This species is also very cold tolerant, and can be used instead of true water lilies in cold climates.

Nymphoides indica is an excellent choice for aquarists and pond keepers looking to add a unique and easy-to-care-for plant to their aquatic setup. With its unique banana-bunch shaped tuber and rosette of heart-shaped leaves the Water Snowflake looks great as a foreground plant in almost all aquariums.

Requirements and information

Temperature:
TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:
CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:

High

Water nutrients:

Medium

Light demand:

Low

CO2:

Low

Height:

Low

Growth rate:

Moderate

Growth habit:

Rosette

Floating

Difficulty:

Easy

Native to: