Bucephalandra Pandora Queen

Color that changes as you walk past. Bucephalandra sp. 'Pandora Queen' carries medium-sized, slightly wavy leaves with a metallic sheen that reads blue, violet or emerald depending on the light and the angle you view it from. Under RGB lighting the shift is dramatic.

What You’ll Receive

Sold as loose Bare-Root or Potted plants:

• 1 Bare-Root: Approximately 5+ leaves
• 5 Bare-Root: Approximately 25+ leaves total
• 10 Bare-Root: Approximately 50+ leaves total
• 1 Potted: Approximately 10+ leaves
• 5 Potted: Approximately 50+ leaves total
• 10 Potted: Approximately 100+ leaves total

Plant Profile

• Common name — Pandora Queen Buce
• Scientific name — Bucephalandra sp. 'Pandora Queen'
• Also known as — Buce, Bucep
• Origin — Riverbanks of Borneo
• Placement — Midground, on wood or stone
• Mature height — 3–5 in
• Growth rate — Very slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium. Stronger light brings out the iridescence
• 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 — suits paludariums
• Propagation — Rhizome division

Grower’s Notes

• Iridescence is structural, not pigment. The blue and violet come from the leaf surface reflecting light rather than from dye in the tissue — so the color shifts with angle and lighting, and photographs rarely capture it. It also means the plant is no harder to keep than a plain green Buce.
• 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.
• Never bury the rhizome. Glue or tie it to rock or wood; buried rhizomes rot.
• Growth is measured in months, which is why Buce holds its shape in a scape for years without trimming.
• Some melting after planting is normal as it converts to submerged growth. New leaves follow from the rhizome.

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

Notes

• Like most Bucephalandra species, minor leaf melt may occur after introduction as the plant adjusts to new water parameters. This is normal and temporary — new submersed leaves will regrow from the rhizome once the plant stabilizes.
• 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.