Anubias Barteri var. Nana - Potted

Anubias Barteri var. Nana | Potted

Anubias Nana is one of those “set it and forget it” plants that instantly makes an aquarium look more established. Native to West Africa, it naturally grows along riverbanks and stream edges where it can be fully submerged or partially out of the water—so it’s built for adaptability. With thick, leathery leaves and a compact footprint, Nana is a go-to for beginners and experienced aquascapers alike, especially if you want a plant that stays tidy, holds its shape, and shrugs off the curiosity of most fish. Even in tanks with boisterous inhabitants, its tougher leaves are far less likely to be shredded compared with softer stem plants.

Anubias Barteri Overview

In aquascapes, Nana shines as a midground anchor plant, but it’s just as effective tucked into the foreground of large and smaller tanks or used to “finish” the base of hardscape. The key to making Anubias look natural is to treat it like it’s growing from the rock or wood, not just sitting on top of substrate. Nestle the rhizome into a crevice, wedge it between branches of driftwood, or line a few pots along a hardscape edge to create a mature, shaded understory. Because it grows slowly and stays compact, it’s perfect for layouts where you want long-term structure without constant trimming.

Aquarists love Anubias Nana because it’s excellent for:

• Creating a clean, classic midground focal point with minimal upkeep
• Adding durable greenery to tanks with active fish that uproot or nibble plants
• Softening rock and driftwood lines so the hardscape feels more natural and “aged”
• Building a shaded, jungle-like look that pairs beautifully with mosses and ferns

Because it grows steadily and holds its form, Nana helps your aquascape look polished week after week with very little maintenance.

Caring for Anubias Barteri

Anubias Nana thrives in a wide range of water conditions and is one of the best choices if you don’t have high light or a fancy planted setup. It grows happily under low light, and it doesn’t need a nutrient-rich substrate because it primarily feeds from the water column. That means you can keep it in simple gravel or sand and still get healthy, steady growth.

The most important rule is simple: do not bury the rhizome (the thick horizontal stem where leaves and roots emerge). If the rhizome is buried, it can rot. Instead, place the plant above the substrate, or—better yet—attach it to hardscape.

To attach it, you can tie it gently to driftwood or rock with thread, or use an aquarium-safe adhesive like Scaper’s Glue. Over time, the roots will naturally grip the surface and the plant will look like it has always been part of the scape. Growth is slow, so patience pays off; the reward is a plant that stays compact, resilient, and consistently attractive. Propagation is also straightforward: as it matures, it produces side shoots, or you can divide the rhizome (making sure each section has several leaves) to create new plants.

• Light: Low
• Temperature Range: 70–85°F
• Placement: Foreground to midground (especially midground)
• CO₂: Not required
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Slow

For the most natural presentation, attach Nana to hardscape—tuck it into the lower edges of Seiryu Stone, Petrified Rock, or Ohko Dragon Rock, or secure it to driftwood like Spider Wood, Blackwood, or Driftwood on Slate so the plant appears to “grow out of” the layout rather than being planted like a stem.

Why Choose the Potted Version

Choosing the potted version is a great option if you want a more stable start and an easier planting experience. Because the plant has been grown and maintained in its pot, it typically arrives with an established root mass and a sturdy, settled structure that makes acclimation straightforward. You can place the pot directly into the substrate for a quick, low-mess setup, or remove the plant from the pot and attach it to rock or wood for a true nature-style look. Many aquascapers also prefer potted plants because they’re easier to position and tend to stay put during early maintenance, especially in tanks with curious fish or strong flow.

Anubias Nana is also available in other formats, including bareroot options and versions grown on driftwood or rock, and you can explore additional Anubias varieties in our collection as well.

Shopping for Plants at Modern Aquarium

At Modern Aquarium, each potted Anubias Barteri var. Nana is inspected and prepared by hand before shipping so you receive a healthy, ready-to-use plant.

• Top Quality Store & real reviews: Modern Aquarium has been designated by Google as a Top Quality Store and has thousands of individual verified reviews from real customers, so you can shop with confidence.
• Live Arrival Guarantee & fast delivery: All live plants are backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee and ship via FedEx 2-Day delivery to help ensure healthy arrival.
• Trusted sourcing: Our plants are sourced from some of the best nurseries in Florida and handled with care from the grower to your aquarium.
• What You See Is What You Get: Images on our site are typical representations—because live plants are natural products, individual specimens will vary in size, fullness, and exact coloration.
• Support when you need it: Use the chat feature on our website or give us a call—we’re happy to help.

If you want an easy, durable plant that makes your aquarium look established without demanding high light or CO₂, Anubias Barteri is one of the best choices you can make—and it looks especially striking when you attach it to hardscape and let it become part of the structure of your aquascape.