Vallisneria Gigantea

Want a green curtain rather than a background plant? Vallisneria gigantea reaches two to four feet, sending broad ribbon leaves to the surface and trailing them along it. In a big open-top tank the effect is genuinely dramatic — in a standard tank it simply takes over.

Size matters here: this needs 40 gallons and real depth. For a smaller tank choose Vallisneria Nana or Vallisneria Torta instead.

What You’ll Receive

Sold as loose fresh-cut plants, bunched plants, or potted plants:

• Bare-root Plants: Approximately 1–2 individual loose, bare-root plants
• Bunched Plants: Approximately 1–2 individual bare-root plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
• Potted Plants: Approximately 1–2 individual bare-root plants potted in rockwool and net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Giant Val, also known as Giant Vallisneria
• Scientific name — Vallisneria gigantea
• Origin — Southeast Asia and Australia
• Placement — Background
• Shipped size — Approx. 1-2 bare-root plants, roughly 8-14 in
• Mature height — 24–48 in
• Suits — 40 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Fast

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.5–8.0. Tolerates hard, alkaline water well
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
• Growth habit — Fully aquatic
• Propagation — Substrate runners

Grower’s Notes

• Plant the crown at the substrate line, never below it. A buried crown rots — the usual reason a new Val fails in the first fortnight.
• Feed at the roots. In inert gravel it survives but barely spreads; root tabs are what turn two plants into a curtain.
• Don't trim the tops to control height. Cut Val leaves brown at the cut and stay that way — remove whole leaves at the base instead.
• It tolerates hard alkaline water better than almost any background plant, which is why it works in cichlid tanks where stems fail.
• Leaves often arrive folded or curled from packing. They straighten within a few days of planting.

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

Notes

• Due to their size, leaves may fold or curl during shipping but will straighten after planting. Some melt may occur in new environments. Provide stable light and nutrients for optimal 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.