Want a Crypt small enough for the foreground? Cryptocoryne lucens stays around 2–4 inches with slender, lance-shaped leaves — far narrower than the wendtii types most people start with — and spreads by runners into a low, dense group. It does that in low light, without CO₂. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format.
What You’ll Receive
- Sold as a Tissue Culture plants with vitamin liquid/gel
- Bag size: Approx. 4 inches. Yield 2-3 plants
- Sustainable growth aquarium plants species
- Tissue Culture Technology | 100% Free from Snail, Algae, Pathogen, and Bacteria plus Extended Shelf Life on all in Vitro Plants
Plant Profile
- Common name — Crypt Lucens
- Scientific name — Cryptocoryne lucens
- Also known as — Cryptocoryne × willisii 'Lucens'
- Placement — Foreground
- Mature height — 2–4 in
- Growth rate — Slow
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Low to medium
- CO₂ — Not required
- Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5. Hard water suits it, as it does most Crypts
- Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Substrate runners
Grower’s Notes
- Why two scientific names? Cryptocoryne lucens is treated by many botanists as part of the Cryptocoryne × willisii complex, so you will see both names on the same plant. Nothing about the care changes.
- This is the low-tech alternative to a carpet. It won't form a lawn like hairgrass, but it fills a foreground reliably in conditions where carpets fail.
- Expect melt after planting. Crypts drop leaves on a change of conditions and rebuild from the roots over two to four weeks. Don't pull them.
- Place it once. Every move triggers another melt.
- Hard water is no obstacle — Cryptocoryne generally do better in harder water than most planted-tank species.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Cryptocoryne 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.
Customers praised this tissue culture plant for arriving healthy with "beautiful" color and shape. The specimens adapted well to aquariums with minimal melting. Easy to divide into multiple bunches for planting. One customer noted compatibility issues with stratum substrate and snails that dig plants up.
- The crypts that arrived were just beautiful, awesome in color and shape.
- Absolutely gorgeous specimen, green, healthy, adapting extremely well to my aquarium.
- Packaged wonderfully and arrived healthy, easy to divide into 6 small bunches.
K
Packaged wonderfully and arrived healthy. The tissue culture was easy to divide into 6 small bunches to place around the tank.
S
I am always leery about trying new vendors for live items. The crypts that arrived were just beautiful. They were smaller, younger offerings, but awesome in color and shape. My new goto for plants!
C
Absolutely gorgeous specimen. The plant was green, healthy, undamaged, and is adapting extremely well to my aquarium environment. So far there's been no melting at all. I can't wait to watch them grow!
D
Doesn’t work well with stratum and snails as they dig it up.
J
Crypt lucens arrived in good condition
B
All of my orders have arrived healthy and after planting: still look great months later!
Recommended for You
Frequently Asked Questions
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
!
