Cryptocoryne Lucens

Want a Crypt small enough for the foreground? Cryptocoryne lucens stays around 2–4 inches with slim, grass-like 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. These are young plants grown in a controlled laboratory environment, so they arrive clean.

What You’ll Receive

• Small Bare-root: 1 loose, small bare-root plant with 6+ leaves
• Potted Plant: 1 plant with 6+ leaves, planted in rockwool inside a net pot
• Young plants grown in a controlled laboratory environment (ex-vitro), offering a clean, pest-free start

Plant Profile

• Common name — Crypt Lucens
• Scientific name — Cryptocoryne lucens
• Also known as — Cryptocoryne × willisii 'Lucens'
• Origin — Sri Lanka
• Placement — Foreground
• Shipped size — Small plant, 6+ leaves
• Mature height — 2–4 in
• Suits — 5 gallons and up
• 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 both names appear 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 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.
• Also available as sterile Cryptocoryne Lucens Vitro Culture if you want multiple plantlets in one bag.

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

Notes

• Cryptocoryne species may experience temporary "crypt melt" when introduced to new environments. This is normal and the plant will regenerate with proper care and stable conditions.
• 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.