Bucephalandra Velvet Tricolor

Want three colors on one plant? Velvet Tricolor carries them at once — young leaves emerge light brown-red, mature to dark brown-green, and the two sit together on a densely bushy plant of narrow, wavy leaves. The name describes the plant at any given moment, not a single shade.

What You’ll Receive

Sold as Bare-root Plants:

• 1 Plant: Loose bare-root with approximately 6+ leaves
• 5 Plants: Loose bare-root with approximately 25+ leaves in total
• 10 Plants: Loose bare-root with approximately 50+ leaves in total

Plant Profile

• Common name — Velvet Tricolor Buce, also known as Velvet 3 Color
• Scientific name — Bucephalandra sp. 'Velvet Tricolor'
• Origin — Sanggau area, West Kalimantan, Borneo
• Placement — Foreground to midground, on wood or stone
• Leaf size — Approx. 30 × 4.5 mm, linear and wavy
• Mature height — 2–4 in
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium. Too much light brings algae it cannot outgrow
• CO₂ — Not required, though it fills out faster with it
• Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Not required. Attaches to hardscape
• Growth habit — Amphibious, though usually grown submerged
• Propagation — Rhizome division

Grower’s Notes

• The color range is the point. A healthy plant always shows new brown-red growth against older dark brown-green leaves. If it looks uniform, it has stopped growing — the contrast is a sign of health.
• Never bury the rhizome. Roots may sit in substrate; the rhizome cannot. Buried, it rots — the usual way an expensive Buce is lost.
• Its rhizome branches readily, so a single plant builds into a dense bushy cluster over time rather than staying a single crown.
• Give it steady current. Bucephalandra are rheophytes from fast Borneo streams, and flow keeps the narrow leaves clean.
• Species identity is unsettled. It is known to come from the Sanggau area of West Kalimantan, but its exact classification remains uncertain — common for Bucephalandra.

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

Notes

• Like all Bucephalandra species, growth rate may vary depending on tank conditions. Ensure the rhizome is never buried in substrate, as this may cause rot. Stable water parameters and patience are key for long-term success.
• 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.