Vallisneria nana

Also sold as Narrow leaf val

Synonyms Val nana

Vallisneria nana is a rosette plant for the background, growing to about 67.5 cm (26.6 in) at a fast pace. It wants 64–82°F (18–28°C), low light and no CO₂, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.

At a glance

Type	Rosette plant
Light	LowThe 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	Easy
Temperature	64–82°F (18–28°C)
Max height	67.5 cm (26.6 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed.
Growth rate	Fast
Placement	planted in the background
pH	6.5–8

Before it goes in

Vallisneria nana lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
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 67.5 cm (26.6 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.

Can it grow without CO₂?

Yes. Vallisneria nana does not need CO₂ at all.

How much light does it need?

Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.

How big does it get?

About 67.5 cm (26.6 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing fast, after roughly 2 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 Frogbit.
Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.

Often compared with

	Vallisneria nana	Vallisneria spiralis	Corkscrew Val
Light	Low	Low	Low
CO₂	Not needed	Not needed	Not needed
Max height	67.5 cm	60 cm	40 cm
Difficulty	Easy	Easy	Easy

More plants

Plan a tank with Vallisneria nana →

Sources (6) · checked Sep 2026