Arrowleaf pond-lily (Nuphar sagittifolia) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Nuphar sagittifolium, Cape Fear spatterdock, Narrow-leaved spatterdock, Narrowleaf pond-lily, Nuphar lutea subsp. sagittifolia
Family
Nymphaeaceae (water lily family)
Origin
Coastal plain of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina (USA)
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50 cm
Temperature
15–26°C
pH
5.5–7
Hardness
Soft
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
Medium to high light; CO2 helpful
Flow
Still to slow flow

Care

The arrowleaf pond-lily, or Cape Fear spatterdock, is a yellow pond-lily found only in acidic lakes, ponds and slow rivers of the south-eastern US coastal plain, in water up to about 2 m deep. The list spells it Nuphar sagittifolium; Nuphar sagittifolia is the accepted spelling. Unusually for a Nuphar, it mostly grows submerged leaves: long, thin, crinkled, translucent green blades that are larger than its narrow arrow-shaped floating leaves (15–50 cm long). This makes it an attractive background specimen for large aquaria, where floating leaves can be removed to keep the plant underwater. Plant the rhizome on top of a rich substrate rather than burying it. In the wild it is imperilled, so buy only nursery-grown plants. As a warm-temperate plant it tolerates a range of temperatures and may need a cooler rest in winter. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources, based on its acidic native waters. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nupharsagittifolia); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Divide the rhizome or detach side shoots with roots. Seeds are produced from flowers, which appear from spring to autumn.

Compatibility and tank mates

Large herbivorous fish and goldfish may eat the thin submerged leaves. Good with peaceful community fish in a large, deep tank.

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

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