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RhizomeEpiphyteLow light

Anubias coffeefolia

An Anubias barteri cultivar with strongly corrugated leaves that emerge bronze-red before hardening to dark green.

Requirements

Scientific name
Anubias barteri
Family
Araceae
Light
Low
CO₂
Not required
Nutrients
low
Growth rate
Very slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Feeding
water column
Temperature
22–28 °C
pH
6–8
Hardness
2–20 °dGH
Height
15–25 cm

Identity

Common name
Anubias coffeefolia
Scientific name
Anubias barteri
Family
Araceae

How to plant it

The commonest way to kill an aquarium plant is to install it wrongly. This is the first thing to get right.

Rhizome must stay above the substrate

Nutrition reaches this plant mainly through the water column, so liquid fertiliser matters more than substrate nutrition.

Growing conditions

InputRequirementNotes
LightLowMatch plants to the light you have rather than raising light to suit the plant — that grows algae.
CO₂Not requiredNot a requirement, though growth is faster with it.
NutrientslowDose a complete liquid fertiliser.
Temperature22–28 °C
pH6–8
Hardness2–20 °dGH
Growth rateVery slow

Propagation

Divide the rhizome once several leaves have formed on each section.

Emersed growth and melting

Commercially grown out of water. Expect the emersed leaves to die back after planting while new submersed-form leaves grow from the crown. This is a conversion, not a disease.

Common problems

  • rhizome rot from burial
  • algae in leaf corrugations

Work from the observation: melting, yellow leaves, holes in leaves and poor growth.

Fish and invertebrate compatibility

Resists grazing
excellent
Resists digging
excellent

Worth knowing

  • The textured leaf surface traps algae more readily than a smooth Anubias, so keep the light modest.

Evidence

ClaimValueEvidence typeConfidenceSource
scientific nameAnubias barteriObserved / measuredhigh confidencePlants of the World Online
temperature22–28 °CAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
light requirementlowAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
co2 requirementnot-requiredAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
growth ratevery-slowAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
placementepiphyteAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
ph6–8 pHAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
general hardness2–20 °dGHAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis
height15–25 cmAquarium-literature consensusmoderate confidenceAquariumHQ husbandry synthesis

Why we say this

What each figure on this page rests on, and how far that is from being independently established.

Every figure on this page has a provenance. Open any claim to see what AquariumHQ holds for it, which sources say what, and what a claim of that kind actually needs. Different claims need different evidence: an accepted scientific name is settled by one authority, while a legal restriction needs a current primary instrument. A single source is often the right answer rather than a thin one. Light and CO2 categories are aquarium conventions rather than measurements, and are labelled as such — AquariumHQ has taken no PAR readings and does not publish figures it has not taken.

scientific nameAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableLimited evidence — treat with caution.

AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.

What this kind of claim needs: accepted botanical name 1 authoritative source in an appropriate context. This class needs 1 independent origin of at least primary-compilation authority, and 0 are held.

What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.

temperatureAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.

light requirementAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.

co2 requirementAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.

growth rateAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.

placementAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.

phAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.

general hardnessAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.

What this kind of claim needs: how to grow the plant no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.

heightAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.

AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.

What this kind of claim needs: size a well-kept specimen reaches no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.

What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.