African onion plant (Crinum natans) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
African onion plant, Water onion
Family
Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis family)
Origin
West Africa
Water
freshwater
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
Medium light; CO2 helpful

Care

Crinum natans, the African onion plant, is a large bulb plant from West Africa with long ribbon-like leaves that trail along the water surface. We could not reach the detailed source pages for this species when writing, so this page is short and the details should be checked. Treat it like its relatives Crinum calamistratum and C. thaianum: plant the bulb in the background of a large, deep tank, leaving the top of the bulb above the substrate so it does not rot, and give a nutrient-rich substrate. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Crinum species are usually propagated from daughter bulbs that form beside the mother bulb.

Compatibility and tank mates

Crinum leaves are tough and are generally left alone by plant-eating fish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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