Top 10 Aquarium Epiphyte Plants Roundup: Anubias Buce Fern
Epiphytes anchor every nature aquascape that uses wood and rock as the structural backbone. The top 10 aquarium epiphyte plants ranked here are rhizome species that mount on hardscape rather than rooting in substrate. This roundup from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park ranks each by ease of attachment, growth rate and visual signature. Mounting via super glue gel or fishing line works for all species listed; rhizomes must remain above substrate to avoid rot. Singapore tap water at GH 2-4 suits every entry without modification.
1. Anubias Barteri
The standard mid-size anubias. Leathery oval leaves, 8-15cm tall, slow grower. SGD 8-18 per portion. Mount on wood or rock with super glue gel. Tolerates near-darkness — survives in caves where nothing else grows. Pair with a live aquarium plant range for fresh imports.
2. Anubias Nana and Petite
Smaller cousins of barteri. Nana caps at 12cm, petite stays under 5cm. SGD 12-25 each. Petite is the gold standard for nano aquascape detail work. Mount in clusters of three for the most natural visual flow.
3. Anubias Pinto
Variegated white-and-green sport of nana. SGD 35-80 per small portion. Slow grower, demanding on light intensity to maintain variegation. Premium display species — one or two clumps as accent points.
4. Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
Standard variety with strap-shaped 20-30cm leaves. SGD 5-12 per portion. Propagates through plantlets that drop off mature leaves. The unkillable epiphyte for any beginner planted tank.
5. Java Fern Windelov
Lace-edged variety with frilly leaf tips. 15-25cm tall. SGD 10-18 per portion. Adds texture variation to a wood scape that standard java fern alone cannot achieve.
6. Java Fern Trident
Three-pronged narrow leaves resembling a trident. 20-30cm tall. SGD 12-20 per portion. The most architectural variant — pairs beautifully with vertical wood arrangements.
7. Java Fern Needle Leaf
Slender narrow leaves under 1cm wide, 15-25cm tall. SGD 12-20 per portion. The compact variant for smaller tanks where standard java fern overwhelms scale.
8. Bucephalandra (Multiple Varieties)
Borneo endemic with stunning leaf colours: Mini Catherinae, Brownie Ghost, Red Mini, Wavy Green, Theia. SGD 15-150+ per portion depending on variety. Slow grower, demanding on light for maximum colour. Pair with a premium hardscape range for matched aesthetics.
9. Bolbitis Heudelotii
African water fern with feathery dark green fronds. 25-40cm tall. SGD 12-25 per portion. Demands gentle flow across the leaves — without movement it accumulates detritus and declines. Mount on driftwood, never substrate.
10. Microsorum Pteropus “Mini”
Compact java fern variant capping at 10-15cm. SGD 10-18 per portion. Suits nano scapes and shrimp tanks where standard java fern crowds the layout. Slower growth, denser leaf clusters.
Related Reading
emilynakatani
Still Have Questions About Your Tank?
Drop by Gensou Aquascaping — most walk-in questions get answered in under 10 minutes by someone who has set up hundreds of tanks.
5 Everton Park #01-34B, Singapore 080005 · Open daily 11am – 8pm
