Plant Profile
Salvinia Natans, also known as the Floating Watermoss or Water Butterfly Wing, is a less common floating fern featuring nickel-sized, air-filled leaves that keep it buoyant on the water surface. Very similar in overall shape and size to Salvinia Cucullata, it distinguishes itself with its flatter, oval leaf structure and fine surface hairs rather than tightly hooded folds. Unlike many other aquarium floaters, Salvinia Natans skips the long, trailing root systems that drape deep into the water column, instead rapidly forming compact, elegant mats across the top of your tank. This makes it ideal for low-tech aquariums and paludariums, where the natural overhead shade it creates helps keep nuisance algae at bay while giving your livestock a peaceful canopy to thrive under.
Key Features & Benefits
- Air-filled, velvet-textured oval leaves create a clean, uniform carpet across the water surface.
- Short, compact root structure provides a sleek look that will not entangle taller background stems or snag swimming fish.
- Fast-growing surface foliage absorbs excess nitrates and biological waste to starve out nuisance algae.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Gently place the plants directly onto the water surface, ensuring the tops of the leaves remain dry.
- Keep surface agitation minimal, as heavy water flow or splashing filters will trap water on top of the leaves and cause them to rot.
- Provide adequate lighting to encourage rapid growth and bring out rich coloration.
- Thin out the floating carpet regularly to ensure light still reaches your submerged midground and stem plants below.
- Dose liquid fertilizers regularly because floating plants absorb nutrients directly from the water column at an accelerated rate.
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 |
Salvinia natans |
| Common Name(s) |
Floating Fern, Floating Moss, Water Butterfly Wing |
| Family |
Salviniaceae |
| Plant Type |
Floating Plant / Water Fern |
| Height / Size |
Leaves ~0.5 in. wide | Height 2–3 in. |
| Care Difficulty |
Easy |
| Light Requirement |
Low to High |
| CO2 Requirement |
Not Required |
| Placement / Usage |
Water Surface Canopy, Algae Control, Livestock Shade |
| Growth Rate |
Fast |
| Water Parameters |
pH 6.5–7.5 | Temperature 68°F–80°F (20°C–27°C) |
| Propagation Method |
Division (Side Shoots / Splitting) |
| Origin |
Cosmopolitan / Europe, Asia, Africa |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I keep my floating aquarium plants from dying due to filter flow and splashing?
High water turbulence and constant water resting on the leaves are the main causes of rot in floating aquarium plants. Keep surface flow low, or use an airline tubing loop or floating ring to shield your aquarium floaters from direct filter return or bubbling air stones.
2. Can floating plants help control algae and absorb nitrates in a fish tank?
Yes, these aquarium floaters act as incredible biological filters. Because they sit at the surface with direct access to atmospheric carbon dioxide, they grow exponentially faster than fully submerged species, aggressively consuming nitrates, ammonium, and excess nutrients that fuel nuisance algae.
3. Should I trim the hanging roots or thin out excess surface growth?
Unlike other floaters, Salvinia Natans maintains naturally short roots that rarely require trimming. However, routinely thinning out excess leaf coverage is crucial so that your floating plants do not completely block light from reaching your submerged stem and ground plants below.
