Alamanda Dark runs from deep green to nearly black, with a faint iridescence that catches the light on mature leaves. It is one of the darkest Bucephalandra varieties, which makes placement matter more than usual — put it on pale stone and it becomes a focal point; put it on dark wood and it vanishes.
What You'll Receive
Sold as Bunched Plants or Potted Plants:
- Bunched Plants: Approximately 1-2 plants bundled with a plant weight for easy placement.
- Potted Plants: Approximately 1-2 plants potted in rockwool and a net pot for secure growth and easy placement.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Alamanda Dark Buce
- Scientific name — Bucephalandra sp. 'Alamanda Dark'
- Also known as — Buce, Bucep
- Origin — Borneo (genus range)
- Placement — Foreground to midground, attached to hardscape
- Mature height — 2-4 inches
- Growth rate — Slow
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Low to medium. Too much light brings algae the plant is too slow to outgrow.
- CO₂ — Not required. Deepens color and speeds growth, nothing more.
- Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5
- Substrate — None needed. Epiphyte; feeds from the water column.
- Growth habit — Amphibious rhizome creeper; grows submersed or emersed
- Propagation — Rhizome division
Grower's Notes
- Contrast is what makes a near-black plant work. Against light stone, pale sand or a green carpet it reads as depth; against dark wood it disappears entirely. Decide placement before you glue it down.
- Never bury the rhizome. Tie or glue it to wood or rock and leave it exposed; buried rhizomes rot.
- Farm-raised, not wild-collected. All the Bucephalandra we carry is farm-grown, and much of it is raised from tissue culture rather than collected from Borneo.
- Established plants sometimes push small white spathes underwater. They are harmless and a sign the plant has settled — nothing to remove.
- Give it flow. Bucephalandra are rheophytes from fast Borneo streams, and moderate current keeps the leaves clean of debris and algae.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Bucephalandra Care Guide.
Notes
Disclaimer: Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge.
Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Customers praised these aquarium plants for their health and value, with most receiving "healthy and beautiful" specimens at a "great price." Plants arrive with multiple rhizomes and 4-8 leaves each. Some shoppers noted concerns about appearance not matching photos and slow shipping, but overall satisfaction remains high with strong root systems.
- Amazed at the health, vigor, and size in the plants for the price
- Healthy and good looking Buce for a great price
- Very healthy and beautiful the size and price is perfect
R
My buce is very healthy and beautiful the size and price is perfect
J
Looking forward to seeing them grow. Nice color, arrived good and healthy
s
I ordered 3 of the 'alamanda dark' and in my opinion, got something totally different, the pictures speak for themselves. Contacted them and they told me plants can look different in different environments. Never again will I order from this company.
J
Got the buy 2 get 3 and was not disappointed.
A
Love Buce from Aquarium plants Factory.👍
A
Healthy and good looking Buce for a great price.
M
My Buce arrived quickly and the plants looked amazing
K
I purchased the Buy 2, Get 1 Free, thinking that each plant would be just a single rhizome. Nope! Each bundle was two or three (mostly three), so instead of 3 Alamanda Darks, I have 8! The rhizomes are healthy with viable roots and 4-8 leaves each. My only quibble is that the Alamanda Darks don't look much like the photos -- the leaves are not nearly as elongated as the pictured plant and more oblong or paddle shaped. So, while I know some plants can be quite variable in leaf shape under different conditions, I will always have a doubt about whether these really are Alamanda Darks, or whether they are something else. Not a huge problem as I'm not a "rare Buce collector", but it bore mentioning.
T
Very slow shipping but the plants showed up in real good shape.
R
Plant seems hardy. Came healthy. A great addition to my aqua plants.
K
I’ve kept plants for quite awhile, and I was amazed at the health, vigor, and size in the plants for the price. You have earned a repeat customer.
J
Shipped sooner than anticipated and is looking great in my tank!
C
I love my new buce!
S
I received three fantastic stalks of this plant. I love the texture it brings to my blackwater tank
D
Arrived in great condition. Tons of leaves, thick healthy stems and rooks. Looks beautiful, cannot tell if submersed growth or not... Hope it doesn't melt! Excited for it to settle in.
C
I received a beautiful, healthy clump. The long brownish leaves with crinkled margins are not like any other bucephalandra in my aquarium.
E
Very impressed with the plants. I purchased 4 of them. Each plant had between 8 to 12 leaves which are about 3 cm long. They arrived in excellent condition
j
Buce plants are always smaller than I expect but I received 2 nice stalks with 4 leaves on one and 5 leaves on the other. They are perfect for the corner of my tank that was empty. If you buy one make sure you give them iron and potassium. Aquarium Plants Factory is my go-to plant vendor now. The plants look good every time I order from them.
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