Banana Lily Plant [Nymphoides Aquatica]

Nymphoides aquatica — Banana Lily

A charming foreground plant with banana-shaped tubers — easy, unusual, and can bloom above water.

Banana Lily is one of the most distinctive and conversation-starting plants in the hobby, named for its cluster of thick, fleshy green tubers that look just like a tiny bunch of bananas. Easy to grow and undemanding of CO2, it makes a refreshing green foreground accent with genuinely unusual texture. As it matures, it sends leaf stems up toward the surface, can form floating pads, and may even produce small, delicate white flowers above the waterline — a lovely surprise for a beginner-friendly plant. The specimens you'll receive are juveniles with tubers under an inch across, ready to grow into a unique focal point in your tank.

IMPORTANT: HOW TO PLANT IT — Do not bury the banana tubers. Rest them on top of the substrate, or anchor only the thin roots while leaving the "bananas" fully exposed above the surface — buried tubers rot. The plant will send roots down into the substrate and leaves up on its own. Because the tubers are buoyant, a gentle plant weight or lightly tucking the roots in helps hold it in place until it roots itself.

AT A GLANCE

CARE GUIDE

CUSTOMER QUESTIONS ANSWERED

(Q) It keeps sending leaves up to the surface — how do I keep it low in the foreground (and will it flower)?

= That's the plant's natural instinct, and you get to decide. To keep it as a low, bushy foreground plant, pinch or trim off the long stems that shoot toward the surface near their base — this redirects energy into compact, submerged leaves. If you'd rather, let those stems grow: they'll form floating lily-pad-style leaves and, on a mature, healthy plant, can produce small white flowers above the waterline. Both looks are valid — trim for a tidy foreground, or let it reach up for pads and blooms.

(Q) The banana tubers are shrinking or getting softer — is something wrong?

= Usually not — this is normal. The tubers are energy-storage organs, and as the plant establishes and pushes out new roots and leaves, it draws on that stored energy, so the "bananas" often shrink over time. As long as you're seeing healthy new growth, the plant is thriving and simply transitioning to feeding itself through its leaves. (The one exception: if a tuber turns mushy and rotten with no new growth, it was likely buried — rest the tubers on top of the substrate, not in it.)

(Q) What size will I receive, and is it hard to keep alive?

= You'll receive a juvenile plant with tubers under an inch across — small to start, but it grows at a steady medium pace into a fuller foreground accent. It's genuinely easy to keep: no CO2 required, undemanding on light, and forgiving of a wide range of water conditions, making it a great pick for beginners and community tanks. Just rest the tubers on the substrate (don't bury them), give it moderate light, and it will settle in and grow. A little liquid fertilizer or a nearby root tab helps it along.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1 Banana Lily (Nymphoides aquatica), a juvenile with tubers under 1 inch across, ready to place on arrival. Rest the banana tubers on the substrate — do not bury them. Rinse gently before adding to your tank.

Ships within 10–15 business days.