Bucephalandra Purple Blue
Plant Profile
Common Name:Â Bucephalandra Purple Blue
Buce ‘Purple Blue’ is a beginner-friendly, low-tech aquarium plant featuring flat, oval-shaped leaves with intense hues ranging from deep purple and blue to shimmering turquoise, which are most pronounced when grown under full-spectrum LED lighting. Highly versatile, it can be grown submerged or emersed, usually attached to hardscape such as driftwood or rocks rather than being buried in traditional aquarium substrate. It's a great choice for the foreground or midground of freshwater aquascapes, where it will slowly sprout from rhizomes to create a dense, iridescent colony over time.
Key Features & Notes
- Under stable conditions and proper lighting, the leaves develop a metallic purple and blue shimmer that is highly sought after by collectors.
- Its compact size makes it perfect for adding pops of color to small crevices in your hardscape or creating a sense of scale in larger layouts.
- This is one of the most durable species in the hobby and thrives in shaded areas. It is an ideal choice for planted tanks where other plants might struggle.
- It is perfectly at home fully submerged in an aquarium or emersed in a humid terrarium. This flexibility makes it a favorite for diverse planted tanks.
Care Tips & Preparation
- Bucephalandra is an epiphytic plant that should be attached to rocks or driftwood. Never bury the rhizome in substrate, as this will cause the plant to rot and melt.
- Avoid making drastic changes to your water parameters or lighting. Unstable conditions are the primary cause of leaf melt in new specimens.
- While this plant is hardy and low-maintenance, CO2 injection will yield much faster growth. We recommend researching your specific water chemistry to ensure your plant thrives.
- Final size and coloration depend entirely on your specific aquarium conditions. Please note that photos are a representation, and individual plants may vary.
- Please research appropriately to ensure your plant thrives.
Additional Information
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Family Name: Araceae
Origin: Borneo (Endemic)
Skill Level: Easy
Growth Rate: Slow
Light: Low to Medium
CO2: Not necessary but recommended
pH Range: 6.0 – 8.0
Propagation: Divide the rhizome with sharp scissors