Cryptocoryne usteriana (Cryptocoryne usteriana) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Usteri's water trumpet
Family
Araceae (arum family)
Origin
Philippines (Guimaras and Panay)
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50 cm
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6.5–8.5
Care level
beginner
Lighting
Low light; CO2 not needed

Care

Cryptocoryne usteriana is a tall crypt endemic to the Philippines, where it grows in lowland tributaries with moderate flow and in seasonal flood pools. In the dry season it dies back completely, regrowing from the rhizome with the monsoon floods and flowering underwater. It is often confused with C. aponogetifolia. Its textured leaves are 3–5 cm wide and can exceed 50 cm, turning dark green or bronze-green above and burgundy-red beneath with good light and feeding. Use it as a background plant in tall tanks. Tropica rates it easy and slow-growing, with low light and CO2 needs, and notes that it copes well with fairly alkaline water. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Conservation: over-collection for the aquarium trade has made it threatened in the Philippines, and the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened. Buy nursery-grown plants. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocoryneusteriana); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Spreads by long runners; separate the daughter plants.

Compatibility and tank mates

Crypt leaves are fairly tough and are usually left alone by fish, shrimp and snails. Large digging cichlids and goldfish may uproot young plants. Tropical tanks only.

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

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