Anacharis (Egeria Densa)

Anacharis (Egeria Densa)

Anacharis, also known as Egeria densa, is a classic, hardy bunch plant native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay). It’s one of the best-known “workhorse” plants in the hobby, valued for its fast growth, easy care, and impressive ability to soak up excess nutrients and help keep aquariums clean and healthy.

Anacharis Overview

Anacharis forms long, flexible stems densely covered in small, bright green leaves arranged in whorls. As it grows, it creates a lush, feathery backdrop that instantly makes a tank look more natural and established.

In the aquarium, Anacharis:

• Makes an excellent background plant in tanks of almost any size
• Can be planted in the substrate or left floating, depending on your layout
• Provides outstanding cover for small fish and fry, as well as resting places for shrimp and other invertebrates
• Absorbs large amounts of nutrients from the water column, which can help reduce the conditions that favor nuisance algae
• In high, bright setups, can grow to the surface, forming a soft green canopy and occasionally producing delicate white flowers at the waterline

Healthy bunches of Anacharis will reinvigorate the look and feel of your tank with their compact, bright green leaves and flowing stems, whether you keep them neatly trimmed in the background or allow them to grow into a more wild, jungle-style scape. It pairs especially well with foreground carpets like Dwarf Sagittaria, midground accents such as Cardinal Plant (Scarlet Lobelia), and colorful stems or floaters like Ludwigia Peruensis and Red Root Floater from our live aquarium plants collection, creating a layered, natural look from substrate to surface.

Care Guide for Anacharis

Because this plant is highly adaptable and fast-growing, Anacharis is one of the easiest aquarium plants to keep. It can match its photosynthetic output to the available light and will adapt to a wide range of water conditions. You can plant it directly into sand or gravel as a rooted background stem, or simply leave it to float if you prefer a more flexible layout or want to move it between tanks.

Anacharis appreciates clean water, regular water changes, and at least modest nutrient availability. While it does not require special substrate, CO₂, or fertilizers, it will grow faster and more robustly in well-maintained, nutrient-rich systems. Periodic trimming of the tops keeps stems from getting too long and encourages bushier growth.

• Light: Moderate (will tolerate low light but grows fuller with moderate lighting)
• Temperature Range: 59–90°F
• Placement: Background and/or floating
• CO₂: Not required
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Fast

To plant Anacharis in the substrate, insert bunches or individual stems a short distance apart in the background. For floating use, simply let the stems drift near the surface; they’ll continue to grow and provide shade and shelter for fish below. Because of its rapid growth and nutrient uptake, Anacharis is particularly useful in tanks with a higher biological load, such as goldfish or community tanks with active feeders.

Shipping Restrictions

Due to local regulations and its status as a potentially invasive species, Anacharis cannot be shipped to the following U.S. states:

Because Anacharis is considered invasive in many regions, it should never be released into ponds, lakes, streams, or any natural waterway.

Plants at Modern Aquarium

At Modern Aquarium, every bunch of Anacharis is inspected, cleaned, and prepared by hand before shipping so you receive fresh, healthy stems that are ready to plant or float in your aquarium.

• Top Quality Store: Modern Aquarium has been designated by Google as a Top Quality Store on Google and has thousands individual verified reviews from real customers, so you can shop with confidence.
• Live Arrival Guarantee & Fast Shipping: All of our live plants are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee and are shipped via FedEx 2-Day delivery to help ensure they reach you healthy, vibrant, and ready to grow.
• Trusted Sourcing: Our plants are sourced from reputable Florida nurseries and handled with care from the grower to your tank.
• What You See Is What You Get: The images on our site are typical representations of the plants we sell—no unrealistic stock photos. Because live plants are natural products, individual specimens will vary in length, fullness, and leaf density.
• Support When You Need It: Not sure whether to plant or float Anacharis, how much to trim, or which plants pair best with it? You can reach us through the chat feature on our website or simply give us a call—we’re happy to offer practical, hobby-focused advice.

For a complete setup, use Anacharis as a fast-growing background or floating plant alongside other live aquarium plants like Dwarf Sagittaria, Dwarf Hairgrass, Ludwigia Peruensis, or Java Moss, and combine it with a suitable substrate (such as Fluval Stratum for planted tanks). Finish the look with our natural driftwood and aquascaping rocks to give Anacharis stems and roots interesting hardscape to grow around and between. To help keep glass and hardscape free of excess algae while staying plant-safe, consider adding our Tiger Eye Nerite Snails or mystery snails—a natural cleanup crew that complements Anacharis’s role in maintaining a healthy, vibrant aquarium.

If you have any questions about what to expect from your order, how to plant your new specimen, or the best starter plants for your tank, you can find answers in our FAQ and blog today!