Want Java Fern with a finer silhouette? Trident splits each leaf into narrow forked fingers instead of a single broad blade — more movement, more detail, and it reads far lighter on hardscape than standard Java Fern. Same near-indestructible plant underneath.
What You’ll Receive
Fresh, healthy Leptochilus pteropus 'Trident' cultivated and prepared by Aquarium Plants Factory®, available in convenient planting formats:
Bare-root Plants: Approximately 3+ leaves per portion with loose rhizome and attached roots
Bunched Plants: Approximately 3+ leaves per portion bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy placement
Potted Plants: Approximately 3+ leaves per portion potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and easy planting
Each portion may consist of individual leaves with separated rhizome sections, which is completely natural for this species. All pieces are viable and will continue to grow once placed in your aquarium.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Trident Java Fern
- Scientific name — Leptochilus pteropus 'Trident' (formerly Microsorum pteropus)
- Placement — Midground, on wood or stone
- Mature height — 6–10 in
- Growth rate — Slow
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Low to medium. Bright light means algae on slow-turning leaves
- CO₂ — Not required
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Not required. Attaches to hardscape and feeds from the water column
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Rhizome division, plus plantlets on mature leaves
Grower’s Notes
- Never bury the rhizome. Tie or glue it to wood or rock with the rhizome fully exposed — buried in substrate it rots, and this is how most Java Ferns are lost.
- It clones itself. Small plantlets form along the edges and tips of mature leaves. Once one has a few leaves and visible roots, snap it off and attach it elsewhere — this is how a single portion becomes a wall of fern over a year.
- Black spots on older leaves are usually plantlet sites or normal aging, not disease. If whole leaves brown from the base, look at light and flow instead.
- Trident grows faster and stays narrower than standard Java Fern, which makes it easier to use in smaller tanks without it swamping the hardscape.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Java Fern Care Guide.
Notes
- This plant is grown ex-vitro in controlled environments, meaning it has been cultivated outside of water under optimal nursery conditions. Upon introduction to your aquarium, minor transition changes may occur as the plant adapts to submerged growth.
- 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 ferns for arriving "lush and healthy" with excellent packaging. Shoppers noted plants were larger than expected and started growing immediately. Most received "beautiful" specimens with strong root systems. One customer experienced hair algae issues post-introduction. Fast shipping and responsive customer service were highlighted.
- Plants were all packed very well individually in a separate bag with care. Quality was great.
- The plants were awesome! Good size n tall...several rhizomes per pot.
- Came quick packed well and looks super healthy
S
Fast shipping and nice looking plants. It started to grow already. Sorry for the cloudy water. It's a re-scape.
M
Large Java fern that I was able to divide into two plants to spread out their placement.
E
Plants arrived healthy, well packaged and were delivered quickly from California to Tennessee. Will definitely be ordering from APF again!
P
The plant was alive healthy and good size
T
Came quick packed well and looks super healthy
R
Purchased several plants and they were all packed very well individually in a separate bag (unlike other vendors) with care. Quality was great and one plant had melted and they issued credit right away with the picture. Customer for life. Thank you!
D
The fern arrived lush and green. Size of the plants look better than the pictures on the website.
J
This has now been in my aquarium for 2 weeks. It is growing well and making me very happy.
J
The plants i received were in great health and doing well in. I did a bulk purchase as I was setting up a 150gallon. I am very pleased with quality and quantities of plants that came. Very happy customer.
R
I received beautiful plants. When I added the live plants to my aquarium hair algae grew and took over my aquarium. I tried pulling the algae off of the plants, gravel and glass but, it was impossible to clear out the algae. I ended up taking the live plants out and changed and cleaned the gravel. My tank is crystal clear now. So disappointed. Any thoughts or suggestions?
K
As always, the very best products! Fantastic, healthy plants! Thank you!
I
The plant came like I just picked It up a store. Perfect size for my tank and looks really healthy.
J
Plant arrived healthy despite USPS being a day late in delivery. Well packaged and no brown or dying leaves.
C
At least 8 stems...all healthy 3 to 4 for inch tops. Growing already after 3 days
I
Plants were well packaged and very healthy upon arrival.
J
Healthy and quick shipping!
R
The plants were awesome! Good size n tall...several rhizomes per pot. You folks never have disappointed me. Im always greatly impressed when I receive my orders from you folks! Thank you!!!
T
Nice big plant, super green and healthy. Looks beautiful in my tank..
m
My plants came in lush and healthy... super happy!!!!
A
I always receive healthy plants!!! The turn around time is excellent great go to for fantastic aquascaping plants kudos AQF
A
Beautiful aquarium plants.
G
Since my first order with APF, I have bought from no one else. The plants are exquisite, shipping is FAST and always... always packaged with extreme great care! I live in very cold weather and one time I left my plants in an outside mailbox. I shared my disappointment with APF and they replaced the product without question. I would encourage anyone looking for high quality, fast shipping and always great selection to use APF.
P
Trident fern has been hard to find and expensive lately. Plant portions and quality of what APF sent me , was well worth the cost.
Good job APF.
I
Got the Trident and very happy with it. It arrived in great condition, in a timely manner and didn't see any snails. Will definitely will be making another purchase from here.
j
it was bigger than i expected it to be
D
I ordered 3 pots. They came in a lot bigger than I had anticipated. I was very happy with them and they’re acclimating wonderfully in my aquarium.
A
Arrived healthy, and was a decent size. Very nice delicate looking leaves, different from many other java ferns I have had. The root and rhizome system was large and very healthy.
J
my plants arrived quickly , very green and large in size, a wonderful looking plant
A
Are these grown emersed or submersed? And when you ship them out to customers have they transitioned fully to submersed? I’m wondering as the photos you have for the plant are the submersed form and will definitely buy from you if you sell fully transitioned java fern.
Good question! Our Trident Java Fern is grown ex-vitro (cultivated outdoors/in nursery conditions above water, not submerged) before it ships. Because of that, you should expect some minor transition as it adjusts to fully submerged life once it's in your tank - occasional melting of a leaf or two while it acclimates is normal and part of the process, not a sign of a problem. It generally settles in and starts pushing new submersed growth within a few weeks. We don't currently offer a version that's already fully transitioned/submersed-grown before shipping.
A
Do you grow the java fern trident submersed? When it ships has it already transitioned?
To answer directly: no, it ships grown ex-vitro (emersed, above water in nursery conditions) rather than already transitioned to submersed growth. So when it arrives, expect a short adjustment period underwater where it may melt back a little before pushing new submersed leaves - this is completely normal for this species and not something to worry about.
D
can these be taken out of the pot and tied or glued to rocks?
Yes
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