Bucephalandra Giant Velvet

Matte, not glossy. Bucephalandra sp. 'Giant Velvet' has a soft velvet surface on broad dark green leaves — it absorbs light where most Buce reflect it, giving depth rather than shine. "Giant" is relative: at 4–6 inches it is large for a Bucephalandra, where most of the genus sits at 2–3.

What You’ll Receive

• Sold as a Bunched Plants or Potted Plants
• Bunched plants | Bucephalandra plants with foam, and lead weight
• Potted plants | Bucephalandra plants with net pot and rock wool

Plant Profile

• Common name — Giant Velvet Buce
• Scientific name — Bucephalandra sp. 'Giant Velvet'
• Also known as — Buce, Bucep
• Origin — Borneo
• Placement — Midground, on wood or stone
• Mature height — 4–6 in
• Growth rate — Slow — roughly an inch a year

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium
• CO₂ — Not required, though it improves growth rate
• Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Not required. Attaches to hardscape
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
• Propagation — Rhizome division

Grower’s Notes

• Know what "Giant" means before you buy. Bucephalandra is a small genus. Giant Velvet reaches 4–6 inches at maturity, against 2–3 for most others — noticeably bigger in Buce terms, but still a detail plant, not a background one.
• It grows about an inch a year. Plants ship at roughly 2–3 inches, so reaching full size takes years, not months. Buy the size you want now rather than expecting it to fill out.
• That slowness is also the appeal — a Buce-planted piece of wood holds its shape for years without a single trim.
• The matte surface means no iridescence to catch the eye; this one works through leaf size and depth of color. Pair it with a blue or purple Buce for contrast.
• Never bury the rhizome. Glue or tie it to rock or wood; buried rhizomes rot.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Bucephalandra Care Guide.

Notes

• 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.