Vallisneria Rubra

Want a Vallisneria that isn't green? Vallisneria rubra carries bronze to reddish tints along its ribbon leaves — the only Val in our range that does. It gives you the same flowing background movement with a warm color that sits well against red midground plants.

What You’ll Receive

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

• Bare Root 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 — Red Val, also known as Red Jungle Vallisneria
• Scientific name — Vallisneria rubra
• Origin — India and Southeast Asia
• Placement — Background
• Shipped size — Approx. 2-3 bare-root plants, roughly 5-10 in
• Mature height — 10–20 in
• Suits — 20 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Fast

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium. Stronger light brings the red forward
• 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

• The color is subtle, not scarlet. Expect bronze and reddish-brown tints along green leaves rather than a red plant. Under low light it reads as ordinary green Val — worth knowing if color is why you are buying it.
• 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.
• Don't trim the tops to control height. Cut Val leaves brown at the cut — 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 and hard-water tanks where stem plants fail.

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

Notes

• Color intensity may vary depending on lighting, nutrients, and tank conditions. Some melting may occur upon introduction. Stable care will support vibrant recovery and propagation.
• 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.