Banana Plant (Nymphoides Aquatica)

Banana Plant (Nymphoides Aquatica)

The Banana Plant (Nymphoides aquatica) is one of those “conversation starter” aquarium plants that’s genuinely easy to keep. Native to slow-moving waters in the southeastern United States, it gets its name from the distinctive banana-shaped tubers at the base of the plant, which act as nutrient storage. In the aquarium, it produces charming, heart-shaped leaves that range from olive green to slightly reddish tones, and in shallower tanks (or when it’s happy), it may send larger leaves up toward the surface for a classic lily-like look.

Banana Plant (Nymphoides aquatica) Overview

Banana Plant is best used as a midground feature plant—something with personality and movement that breaks up rock lines and adds a soft, natural focal point without dominating the entire layout. It looks especially good when you give it a little “stage” around hardscape, where the broad leaves can contrast against stone textures and darker wood.

Aquarists appreciate Banana Plant for:

• Beginner-friendly growth: adaptable and forgiving in most community tanks
• Unique tuber “banana” base: a fun, unmistakable look with a real biological purpose
• Midground presence: heart-shaped leaves that add softness and shape variety
• Easy propagation potential: can form plantlets from leaves under good conditions

For aquascaping, Banana Plant pairs beautifully with your rock selection: place it near Japanese Ohko Dragon Rock to soften rugged contours, alongside Seiryu Rock for a crisp green-on-gray contrast, or against Blue Petrified Rock when you want the leaves to “glow” against a darker base. Finish the look by framing it with darker driftwood like Driftwood on Slate—the tubers and leaf shape look especially striking against deep wood tones.

To complete that “southern backwater / riverbank” vibe, Banana Plant also pairs beautifully with natural botanicals. A few Aquatic Catappa Leaves or Aquatic Mango Leaves scattered around the base of the plant instantly make the midground look more established, while adding gentle tannins and a more authentic leaf-litter aesthetic. If you want a more textured, root-and-pod look, tuck Aquatic Bael Pods or Aquatic Aguna Pods near your hardscape transitions—especially where the tubers meet the substrate—so the entire feature reads like a real shoreline zone. For a lighter, more delicate finishing touch, Aquatic Bamboo Leaves create a clean, natural scatter that looks especially sharp against darker rocks and wood, and they help tie the Banana Plant into a broader “natural habitat” layout rather than making it feel like a standalone specimen.

Caring For Banana Plant

Banana Plant is easy, but it does have one key rule: don’t bury the tubers. Instead of planting it like a typical rooted stem, rest the tubers on top of the substrate or press them in very lightly (many keepers follow the “no more than about ¼ inch” guideline) so they don’t suffocate and rot. Once settled, it will send down normal roots to anchor itself.

Because those tubers store nutrients, Banana Plant is not a heavy feeder. It can do well in low-tech tanks, but it will still respond nicely to a nutrient-rich substrate or the occasional root tab near (not on) the root zone. In good conditions, it may produce new plantlets and—especially in open-top setups—can even reward you with small blooms above the waterline.

Here are the quick parameters to keep it thriving:

• Light: Low–Moderate (more light often encourages larger, more surface-reaching leaves)
• Temperature Range: 68–80°F (comfortable in typical tropical community tanks)
• Placement: Midground (can work as a gentle background accent in larger tanks)
• CO₂: Not required (beneficial for stronger, faster growth)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Moderate (varies with light and overall nutrients)

Once you’ve placed it correctly (tubers not buried), Banana Plant is mostly about letting it settle and then deciding the look you want. If you love the lily-pad vibe, allow a few leaves to reach the surface and enjoy the shade and movement they create. If you prefer a more compact midground, trim older or overly long leaf stems at the base and encourage fresh, smaller submerged leaves. Either way, it’s a low-drama plant that adds a distinctive “wild pond” character—especially when it’s nestled into rockwork and framed by wood.

Shop with Confidence for Aquarium Plants at Modern Aquarium

When you’re buying live plants, the difference is rarely the species name—it’s the quality of the specimen, how it’s handled, and how it’s packed and shipped. At Modern Aquarium, we focus on delivering plants that arrive clean, healthy, and ready to thrive—backed by responsive support if you need a hand.

• Hand-inspected & prepared plants: Every plant is inspected and prepped before shipping so you receive healthy specimens, not a “grab-bag” pull.
• Fast, reliable shipping for live plants: We pack carefully and ship quickly by FedEx 2-Day Delivery to minimize transit stress and help plants arrive in great condition.
• Live Arrival Guarantee: Your live plant order is protected—so you can buy with confidence.
• Google Top Quality Store + real reviews: Modern Aquarium has been designated by Google as a Top Quality Store and has thousands of verified customer reviews.
• Trusted Sourcing: Our plants are sourced from the best nursery in Florida and are handled with care from the grower to your aquarium.
• What You See Is What You Get: Every image on our site is a typical representation of the plants we sell—no unrealistic stock photos. Because live plants are natural products, individual specimens will vary in size, fullness, and coloration.
• Real support when you need it: Reach us via site chat or phone for practical help with placement, trimming, fertilizing, and plant pairing.

Bottom line: Banana Plant is a uniquely shaped, genuinely beginner-friendly midground plant that adds broad-leaf contrast and a natural pond feel without demanding a high-tech setup. Place it correctly (tubers above the substrate), give it a stable home near your favorite rockwork—Ohko, Seiryu, Lava Rock, or Blue Petrified Rock—and finish the composition with darker driftwood like Blackwood or Tiger Wood for a layout that looks intentional, balanced, and “grown-in” from the start.