Dwarf Aquarium Lily (Nymphaea stellata) - Potted

The Dwarf Aquarium Lily (Nymphaea stellata) is a beginner-friendly bulb plant that sends up arrowhead-shaped leaves in shades of red, bronze, and olive green, adding instant warm color to a planted tank. It stays compact enough to serve as a midground centerpiece in tanks as small as 5 gallons, and it grows happily without CO2 or high-tech lighting. Browse the rest of our live freshwater plants to round out your aquascape.

Care Guide

• Lighting: Low to moderate. Brighter light keeps growth compact and pushes the leaves toward deeper reds.
• Planting the bulb: Nestle the bulb into the substrate only about halfway. Leave the top exposed, a fully buried bulb can rot.
• Feeding: A heavy root feeder. It thrives in nutrient-rich substrate or with Seachem Flourish Tabs pushed into the gravel near the bulb.
• Color boost: Dosing Seachem Flourish Iron deepens the red and bronze tones.
• Trimming: Left alone it will send lily pads to the surface. Pinch off surface-bound stems at the bulb to keep growth low and bushy.
• CO2: Not required. Growth speeds up with CO2, but this plant does great in low-tech setups.

Specifications

Compatibility

Dwarf Aquarium Lily is safe with virtually all peaceful community fish and invertebrates. Tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and bettas all appreciate its broad leaves as cover, and it pairs beautifully with Amano Shrimp and nerite snails, which graze algae off the pads without harming them. Skip it with goldfish and large cichlids, which tend to uproot bulbs and shred soft leaves.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Seachem Flourish Tabs root fertilizer, ideal for bulb plants
• Seachem Flourish Iron for richer red coloration
• CaribSea PyroFlora volcanic substrate for planted tanks
• Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri), its bolder cousin for larger tanks
• More freshwater aquarium plants

FAQ

Will it cover the surface of my tank? Only if you let it. Trim any stem that races toward the surface and the plant stays a compact midground bush. If you want a few lily pads up top for shade, leave a stem or two alone.

How deep should I plant the bulb? About halfway. The top of the bulb should stay visible above the substrate. Burying it completely invites rot.

Some leaves are melting after planting. Is that normal? Yes. Bulb plants often shed a few leaves while adjusting to new water. Trim the mushy ones and fresh growth usually appears within a week or two.

Is it safe with shrimp and snails? Completely. Its leaves are a favorite grazing surface for cleanup crews.