Vallisneria Nana

Want the flowing Vallisneria look without a curtain that swallows your tank? Vallisneria nana has the thinnest leaf blade in the genus — roughly 1 mm wide. Fine dark green ribbons that move constantly with the flow, reading as texture rather than as a solid wall.

What You’ll Receive

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

• Fresh-Cut Plants: Approximately 2–3 individual loose, bare-root plants
• Bunched Plants: Approximately 2–3 individual bare-root plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
• Potted Plants: Approximately 2–3 individual bare-root plants potted in rockwool and net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Vallisneria Nana, also known as Narrow Leaf Eelgrass
• Scientific name — Vallisneria nana
• Also known as — Vallisneria gracilis
• Origin — Australia
• Placement — Background
• Shipped size — Approx. 2-3 bare-root plants, roughly 6-12 in
• Mature height — 20–30 in, longer in the wild
• Leaf width — Approx. 1 mm — the narrowest Vallisneria
• Suits — 20 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Fast

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium is enough
• CO₂ — Not required! One of the best background plants for a low-tech tank
• Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.5–8.0. Handles hard alkaline water better than most
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — root tabs are what drive the runners
• Growth habit — Fully aquatic
• Propagation — Substrate runners

Grower’s Notes

• A 1 mm blade changes how it reads. Jungle Val and Gigantea form solid green curtains. Nana at this width lets light and sightlines through, so you get movement and depth without blocking the back of the tank.
• Plant the crown at the substrate line, never below it. A buried crown rots, and that is the usual reason a new Val fails in its first fortnight.
• Don't trim the tops to control height. Cut Vallisneria leaves brown at the cut and stay that way — remove whole leaves at the base instead.
• It feeds at the roots. In inert gravel it survives but barely spreads; root tabs are what turn three plants into a stand.
• Still a tall plant at 20–30 inches, and longer in the wild. In a shallow tank it reaches the surface and trails along it.

Want the patterned version? See Vallisneria nana 'Striped', the same narrow blade with brown tiger striping.

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

Notes

• Photos are for reference; height and leaf width vary with lighting and tank depth. Some melting on introduction is normal, with regrowth from the crown. Aquarium-safe and shrimp-safe.
• 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.