Australian Vallisneria

Australian Vallisneria is the large-scale background plant for tanks where standard vallisneria looks undersized. Vallisneria australis grows tall enough to reach the surface of a 60 cm deep aquarium, with bright green leaves that are wider than those of V. spiralis.

Like all vallisnerias, it spreads by runners. Contain spreading runners and remove surplus plants before the background becomes crowded. The runners travel across the substrate and send up new shoots every few centimetres, so the plant is best kept within a buried plastic pot in smaller setups. CO₂ is not needed and the plant thrives in both soft and moderately hard water.

It does not grow emersed — the leaves are fully aquatic — but it can survive in outdoor ponds in milder climates. The species comes from temperate to subtropical Australia, which means it tolerates a broad temperature range. For the aquarium, 18 to 28 °C with neutral to moderately alkaline pH gives the best growth.