Eelgrass

About

A large and vigorous aquatic plant from Asia, Vallisneria 'Gigantea' is one of those background plants that genuinely earns its keep. The leaves are long, flat ribbons that can easily reach from the substrate all the way to the water surface and then trail across it, giving the tank a natural, almost river-like feel. At around two centimeters wide, the foliage has a solid, almost leathery quality that most plant-nibbling fish tend to leave alone, which is a genuine advantage over more delicate species. It spreads readily through runners, sending out new plantlets across the substrate as long as the growing medium has adequate nutrients, so a single plant can colonize a decent stretch of a large tank fairly quickly. That vigorous growth does come with a caveat. Once the leaves hit the surface and start spreading horizontally, they can shade out whatever is growing beneath them, so periodic trimming is part of keeping this plant tidy. Because of that eventual size, it really belongs in a spacious aquarium where it has room to do its thing. Fortunately, the care demands are minimal, making this a genuinely forgiving choice for newer planted tank keepers who want lush, tall greenery without a lot of fuss.