Nymphaea Stellata
Plant Profile
Native to India, Nymphaea stellata, commonly known as the Dwarf Water Lily, is a great pick for hobbyists who want high-impact red foliage with low maintenance. Sprouting directly from a compact bulb, it sends out long, delicate stems topped with distinctly arrow-shaped leaves. These speckled leaf blades shift between warm copper, soft pink, and deep reddish-violet, creating a gorgeous color pop right in the center of your tank. It stays remarkably manageable compared to its giant pond cousins, giving you all the dramatic lily aesthetics without taking over your whole glass box!
Key Features & Notes
- Arrowhead leaves display rich copper, pink, and reddish-violet tones for strong color contrast.
- Compact bulb growth maxing out around 6 inches tall makes it an ideal midground focal point.
- Hardy and undemanding species that retains rich red coloration in low-tech tanks without CO2.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Prep the plant by gently clearing any loose debris or rockwool away from the bulb and roots.
- Set the bulb into your substrate, making sure at least half of the bulb sits above the soil line to prevent rot.
- As a heavy root feeder, placing nutrient-rich soil or root tabs near the bulb supports steady growth and vivid red leaf pigmentation.
- Provide moderate lighting; while CO2 injection isn't strictly required, good lighting will enhance its red and pink foliage.
- Regularly trim long stems that try to reach the water surface if you want to keep the plant growing in a compact midground bush formation. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
- Propagate by gently separating lateral offshoot plantlets or daughter bulbs once they form independent root systems.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nymphaea stellata |
| Common Name(s) | Dwarf Water Lily, Dwarf Lily |
| Family | Nymphaeaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Bulb plant / True Aquatic |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Moderate |
| CO2 Requirement | Not required (Optional) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground Centerpiece / Foreground Accent |
| Height / Size | 4–6 inches |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.0–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Separate daughter offshoots or side shoots from bulb |
| Origin | India & Southeast Asia |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How deep should I plant the bulb of Nymphaea stellata?
Rest the roots in the substrate, but make sure at least half of the bulb sits completely exposed above the soil. Fully burying the bulb restricts oxygen flow and causes it to rot.
2. How do I stop my Dwarf Water Lily from sending leaves to the surface?
If you see a stem shooting straight up toward the waterline, clip it off close to the bulb base with sharp scissors. Regular pruning trains the plant to keep producing shorter, bushier midground foliage.
3. Does Nymphaea stellata need high light and CO2 to stay red?
Nope! Unlike many finicky red stem plants, Nymphaea stellata maintains its reddish-pink tones quite easily in standard low-tech setups without pressurized CO2, provided it gets adequate root nutrients.