Red Bucephalandra

Red Bucephalandra is a beautiful, slow-growing aquatic plant prized for its compact growth, textured leaves and attractive reddish, bronze or burgundy tones. The exact colour and leaf shape vary between varieties, with some plants displaying subtle red highlights under suitable aquarium lighting.

Native Bucephalandra species originate from tropical Borneo, where they commonly grow attached to rocks and driftwood along streams and rivers. This makes Red Bucephalandra an excellent choice for natural aquascapes, nano aquariums and planted tanks where detail and texture are important.

As a rhizome plant, it should be attached to driftwood or rock rather than buried in the substrate. Covering the rhizome can cause it to rot. Growth is generally slow, making it a low-maintenance option for established aquariums.

Moderate lighting, stable water conditions and gentle to moderate flow help maintain healthy growth. Carbon dioxide supplementation is optional, although it may encourage faster growth and stronger colour development.

Quick Care Guide

• Scientific Name: Bucephalandra sp. ‘Red’

• Common Name: Red Bucephalandra

• Family: Araceae

• Type: Freshwater aquatic plant

• Planting Position: Foreground / Midground

• Height: Approximately 5–10 cm

• Growth Rate: Slow

• Care Level: Easy

• Lighting: Low to moderate

• CO₂ Requirement: Optional

• Temperature: 20–28°C

• pH: Approximately 5.0–8.0

• Propagation: Rhizome division

• Substrate: Not required; attach to rock or driftwood

• Suitable For: Planted aquariums, nano tanks and shrimp tanks

• Colour: Dark green, reddish-brown to leathery red, sometimes with metallic highlights

These care details are based on guidance for Bucephalandra sp. ‘Red’; colour and growth can vary with the particular variety and aquarium conditions. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Red Bucephalandra need CO₂?

No. It can grow without injected CO₂, although supplementation may improve growth and overall plant condition.

Should I plant it in the substrate?

No. Attach it to rock or driftwood and keep the rhizome exposed. Burying the rhizome can cause it to rot. 

How do I get the red colour to show?

Provide stable conditions and suitable low-to-moderate lighting. Colour varies naturally between plants, so lighting alone cannot make every specimen bright red.

Is it suitable for shrimp tanks?

Yes. Red Bucephalandra is a good choice for shrimp aquariums, providing detailed cover and surfaces for biofilm to develop.

Why is my Bucephalandra melting?

Some leaf loss can occur when a plant adjusts to new aquarium conditions, especially when transitioning from emersed growth. Remove decaying leaves, keep the rhizome healthy and allow time for new growth. 

How do I propagate Red Bucephalandra?

Carefully divide the rhizome into sections, ensuring each piece has healthy growth points and preferably some roots. Attach each section to rock or wood.

Common Mistakes

• Burying the rhizome in substrate.

• Using excessive lighting, encouraging algae on slow-growing leaves.

• Expecting rapid growth.

• Frequently moving the plant before it attaches.

• Assuming every Red Bucephalandra has identical colouring.

• Discarding a healthy rhizome immediately after some leaf melt.