Jungle Val (Vallisneria Americana) - Potted

Jungle Val (Vallisneria Americana) | Potted

Jungle Val is one of the easiest ways to create that classic lush, swaying “jungle” look in a freshwater aquarium. Native to North America, Vallisneria americana grows in long, ribbon-like leaves that move beautifully in the current and quickly make a tank feel more established. In the right setup it forms thick stands that provide shade, structure, and natural cover—the kind of plant that looks great from day one, but becomes even more impressive as it fills in.

Jungle Val Overview

In an aquascape, Jungle Val is at its best when you treat it like a backdrop plant that creates height and movement behind your layout. Plant it behind rocks and driftwood and let the leaves rise toward the surface, forming a soft green curtain that makes foreground plants and hardscape “pop.”

Before the details, here are a few reasons aquarists keep coming back to Jungle Val:

• Builds a tall, natural background with minimal effort
• Creates cover and security for fish, especially when grown in dense stands
• Spreads via runners to form a fuller “grove” over time
• Adds movement and texture—long leaves sway and soften hardscape lines
• Great for newer or low-tech tanks, since it’s generally undemanding

Once established, Jungle Val often becomes the plant that quietly “finishes” a tank—filling empty vertical space, adding motion, and making the whole aquarium feel more like a real shoreline habitat.

Caring For Jungle Vallisneria 

Jungle Val is generally undemanding and adapts well to a wide range of aquarium conditions. It grows best with moderate lighting and a substrate it can root into comfortably. While it isn’t as picky as many carpeting plants, it does appreciate steady nutrients—especially at the roots—so a nutrient-rich planted substrate or occasional root tabs can help it spread faster and maintain strong, healthy leaves.

Plant Jungle Val in the midground or background, leaving enough room for the leaves to rise and sway without shading everything in front of it. For the most natural effect, plant it in small bunches rather than a single straight row, which creates a more organic “grove” look. As it settles in, it will send out runners and form daughter plants; you can leave them to fill in a thicker stand, or trim and replant them to shape the layout.

• Light: Moderate
• Temperature Range: 70–86°F
• Placement: Midground to Background
• CO₂: Not required
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast (faster with nutrients and stable conditions)

Propagation occurs through runners that produce new plants, and in good conditions Jungle Val may even produce small white flowers on stems that stretch toward the surface—one of those fun, unexpected signs that your tank is thriving.

Why Choose the Potted Version

Choosing the potted version is a great option if you want a clean, stable start—especially for rooted plants like Vallisneria. Potted Jungle Val typically arrives with a well established root mass, which helps it anchor quickly and reduces the chance of the plant floating up after planting. You can place the pot directly into the substrate for a simple setup, or remove the plant to plant it directly into substrate, a more natural placement from the start.

Jungle Val is also available bare-root. Other Vallisneria species available for purchase include Italian Vallisneria, Jungle Val Potted, Italian Vallisneria, Corkscrew Vallisneria, and Jungle Red Val.

Shop with Confidence for Aquarium Plants at Modern Aquarium

At Modern Aquarium, each potted Jungle Val is inspected and prepared by hand before shipping so you receive a healthy, ready-to-plant specimen.

• 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 with planting, runner management, and choosing the right Vallisneria for your layout.

To complete the look, pair Jungle Val with bold hardscape like Seiryu Stone, Petrified Rock or Ohko Dragon Rock, add driftwood for height and structure (including Blackwood, Saba Wood or Driftwood on Slate), and finish with a light touch of botanicals along the margins for a subtle, natural shoreline feel. If you love Vallisneria-style plants, we also carry multiple related options in our Vallisneria Category of plants—like Italian Vallisneria, Corkscrew Vallisneria, and Jungle Red Val—so you can dial in the exact texture and color you want.