Leopard Vallisneria

Leopard Vallisneria is a grass-like background plant of the trade, a mottled-blade form of the Vallisneria group grown for its long, ribbon-like leaves marked with paler patches. Flowgrow has no page for this particular form, so the card carries no reference entry and the numbers on it are editorial: 18 to 30 °C, pH 6.5 to 8.5, low to medium light. Like other Vallisneria it spreads by runners, sending out new plants along the substrate so that a few specimens can fill a background within months, and it grows quickly once settled. It is a classic low-tech plant that grows without any CO₂ enrichment, and it does well in a plain gravel or sand substrate with a little root fertiliser. The leaves can be trimmed, though they look better left to their natural length. It suits community tanks with fish that do not dig, and it provides cover for shy species. An easy, reliable background plant for beginners.