Madagascar Lace Plant
Aponogeton madagascariensis
Also sold as Madagascar Lace Bulb
Synonyms Madagascar lace · Lace plant · Aponogeton fenestralis · Lattice leaf
Madagascar Lace Plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) is a bulb plant for the background, growing to about 30 cm (11.8 in) at a moderate pace. It wants 68–79°F (20–26°C), medium light and no CO₂, and counts as an advanced plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Bulb plant |
|---|---|
| Light | MediumThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | Not neededWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Temperature | 68–79°F (20–26°C) |
| Max height | 30 cm (11.8 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Moderate |
| Placement | planted in the background |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
Before it goes in
- Madagascar Lace Plant needs medium light. Under a low-light LED it thins out instead of filling in.
- It grows without CO₂.
- It feeds through its roots, so in plain sand or gravel it needs root tabs; in an aquasoil it does not.
- Expect it to melt back a few weeks after planting and regrow from the roots — pulling it out at that point is the mistake.
- At about 30 cm (11.8 in) it belongs behind everything shorter — planted at the front it hides the rest of the scape and shades it.
- Its leaves are medium: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail will eat it.
- It counts as an advanced plant: it is not a first-tank pick.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes. Madagascar Lace Plant does not need CO₂ at all.
How much light does it need?
Medium light — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 30 cm (11.8 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing at a moderate pace, after roughly 3 weeks to root in.
Why is it melting?
That is normal for this one. It usually drops its existing leaves a few weeks after planting and regrows from the roots — leave it in place and it comes back.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are medium, so some will: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Cryptocoryne wendtii.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Madagascar Lace Plant | Aponogeton boivinianus | Aponogeton crispus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Medium | Medium | Low |
| CO₂ | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Max height | 30 cm | 50 cm | 50 cm |
| Difficulty | Advanced | Medium | Easy |
More plants
Sources (1)
- Difficultytropica.comSep 2026