A stem plant that behaves like a vine. Cardamine lyrata — Japanese Cress — carries small, round, ivy-like leaves on long trailing stems that creep across hardscape or climb toward the surface rather than standing upright. It also prefers cooler water than most tropical stems.
What You’ll Receive
- Sold as a Small Bare-root Plants, Bunched plants, or Potted plants
- Small bare-root | small rooted develop plants
- Bunched plants | rooted plants bundle with foam, and plant weight
- Potted plants | rooted developed plants potted with net pot and rock wool
Plant Profile
- Common name — Cardamine
- Scientific name — Cardamine lyrata
- Also known as — Japanese Cress, Chinese Ivy
- Origin — East Asia
- Placement — Midground; also trails over hardscape
- Mature height — 4–10 in
- Growth rate — Fast
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Medium
- CO₂ — Not required
- Water — 65–75°F · pH 6.5–7.5. Note the ceiling — this is a cool-water species
- Substrate — Not required, though a nutrient substrate gives fuller growth
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed in humid terrariums
- Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem sections
Grower’s Notes
- Keep it under 75°F. Cardamine comes from temperate East Asia and thins out badly in a warm tropical tank. It suits room-temperature, lightly heated and coldwater setups — which is where most of its competition won't grow.
- Train it rather than plant it. Laid across wood or stone the stems creep and root as they go, giving a draped effect no upright stem plant produces.
- It arrives in emersed nursery form with round leaves. Submerged growth comes in a slightly different shape — that's the plant adapting, not a mislabel.
- Trim and replant cuttings; sections root readily from any node.
- Fast growth means regular trimming, or it reaches the surface and shades what's below.
Notes
- Cardamine lyrata ships in its emersed nursery form with round leaves. Once submerged, leaf shape may change and adapt to aquarium conditions. Some initial melting or leaf loss may occur during transition but new submerged growth will follow.
- 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 arriving "healthy" with "strong" roots and vibrant green color. Most reported minimal melting and quick establishment in tanks. While some noted occasional shipping-related damage or inconsistent quality between plants in an order, shoppers appreciated the good value and fast shipping. Easy to propagate and grows quickly.
- Healthy roots! Minimal melting with decently long roots when they arrived.
- Plants came strong and healthy. Thank you for your on time shipping and healthy plants.
- Really nice portion, healthy plants, and a good price!
M
I have been ordering aquarium plants from aquarium plants factory on multiple occasions they’ve always excelled that their packaging, the quality of theirplants. This order was excellent as always, with the exception of the two CARDAMINE LYRATA one was an excellent condition, healthy, appearing and beautiful on the number of roots it had, however., The other plant I received was in poor condition. All the stems were dead, appearing and brown, I will include pictures as below.
J
Plants arrived on time. Beautiful plants in great condition. Will continue buying from them.
A
The specimen I got is vigorous, healthy, has beautiful color, and is a good size.
What I don't know if I like is there are roots growing at each node and I was hoping to grow this as a "shrub" in my scape, not laying it down and letting it carpet out. Also the plant looks a little smoothed like it was grown in a tube.
Don't get me wrong, great little plant and im confident that it will acclimate quickly to my tank and be a wonderful addition.
A
Good!
A
Theyve withstood and held firm into the media as corycats have been shuffling and snuffling in the substrate near them for a week so far, and had decently long roots when they arrived. Minimal melting a week in with a small boost of liquid fertilizer and iron.
A
Plants came strong and healthy. I'm excited to see them take off. Thank you for your on time shipping and healthy plants I really appreciate it
V
Small quantity for this plant, I’ve ordered many from them. But it came nice and green and I have 2 nice patches planted look like they’re already taking hold.
S
Very nice plants
J
1st time buyer and extremely satisfied with my order. The plants shipped quickly and arrived healthy. They are doing great in my tank! I definitely will be ordering more plants in the future.
s
I received this lyrata in my first order from APF and I absolutely love it! Really nice portion, healthy plants, and a good price!! Much better than this other plant site I had been ordering from. Their prices were too high for way less portion and quality.
B
Every plant I get from Aquarium Plants Factory is healthy and exceptional. My favorite online plant store!
A
It arrived a little melted do to shipping, but it almost immediately started thriving when I placed it in my aquarium!
D
Beautiful plant! Arrived with some leaves that had melted because of shipping time (due to post office not the fault of aquarium plants factory). Quickly revived when put in the tank and is now thriving.
A
The plants all arrived alive. There are a few dead leaves but as they got stuck over the weekend I expected as much.
D
Always comes in great shape. Love this place!
J
Quality was just ok, but that is to be expected. Still worth the price especially if you cant find this locally.
G
Beautiful healthy plants.fast shipping , every plant ive purchased has been healthy ,clean and grown well,will continue to purchase from apf.
M
Quick to grow and easy to keep and propagate.
C
Can you please tell me what type of lighting this plant prefers?
They prefer medium to high lighting. You can use any growth light, we use LED 6500k daylight.
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