Anubias barteri var. 'Afzelii' is the elongated, upright member of the Anubias barteri group — a variety distinguished by long, lance-shaped leaves that taper gradually to a fine point and stand away from the rhizome on extended petioles, creating a vertical, structured presence that the broader-leafed barteri varieties cannot replicate. Where standard Anubias barteri spreads wide and low with broad oval leaves, and Nana stays compact and fine, Afzelii grows tall and narrow — a natural midground plant that adds genuine height to a low-tech layout without the demand of stem plants or the bulk of larger sword varieties. The deep, glossy green of the leaves is consistent across the variety and holds reliably under low light, making it one of the few plants that genuinely fills the midground vertical zone in a no-CO₂ setup. Like all Anubias, it grows from a rhizome that must remain above substrate, attaches to driftwood and stone, and is fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and snails.
Not Required
CO₂
72–82°F
Temperature
Low–Med
Lighting
What to Expect
Growth & Behavior Over Time
Long, lance-shaped leaves on extended petioles — the leaf form of Afzelii is its defining characteristic and what separates it immediately from other Anubias barteri varieties. Each leaf is elongated and narrows gradually to a pointed tip, held upright on a long petiole — the stalk connecting leaf to rhizome — that keeps the leaf elevated and vertical rather than spreading laterally at the rhizome level. A mature Afzelii in good conditions produces leaves that can reach 15–25cm in length, significantly taller than barteri or Nana under comparable conditions.
The midground height solution for low-tech planted tanks — most low-light, no-CO₂ plants are foreground or low-midground plants that stay close to the substrate. Afzelii fills the midground vertical zone — 10–25cm from the substrate — that in high-tech tanks would be occupied by stem plants, but in a low-tech setup is difficult to fill with suitable species. The upright, tall habit of Afzelii is available to any planted tank regardless of CO₂ or lighting intensity.
Deep glossy green that holds under low light — Afzelii leaves are a rich, deep green with a smooth, slightly glossy surface that reflects light cleanly. The color is stable and reliable under low-light conditions, neither fading to pale green nor developing the yellowing that some plants show when light is reduced. Medium lighting produces the deepest, most saturated green and the fastest growth rate but is not required for healthy, attractive foliage.
Slow, deliberate growth with long-lived individual leaves — like all Anubias, Afzelii grows slowly — adding one leaf at a time over weeks — and individual leaves are exceptionally long-lived, remaining on the plant and holding their quality for months to years. This longevity makes the leaf surface vulnerable to algae accumulation over time, which is managed by keeping the photoperiod consistent and avoiding excessive light intensity rather than any active intervention.
Large leaf surface area accumulates biofilm generously — the long, broad individual leaves of Afzelii accumulate substantial biofilm across their surface, creating a generous foraging area that Neocaridina, Caridina, and snails graze thoroughly. The elevated leaf positions — held up on long petioles away from the substrate — give midwater-foraging shrimp access to biofilm surfaces at heights they would not otherwise reach on lower, substrate-level plants.
Rhizome must remain fully above substrate at all times — the horizontal stem connecting roots and leaves must never be buried. Partial or full burial of the rhizome causes rot that spreads irreversibly through the plant. Plant by attaching to driftwood or stone, or rest directly on the substrate with the rhizome fully exposed — never pushed into or covered by substrate material.
How to Set It Up
Getting Started
1
Attach to driftwood or stone — never plant in substrate — secure the rhizome to driftwood or porous rock with cotton thread or a small amount of super glue gel, or wedge the rhizome into a natural crevice in the hardscape. The rhizome must remain exposed to open water at all times. Afzelii attached to a tall or upright piece of driftwood can produce a composed midground column of foliage that is difficult to achieve with any other low-tech plant.
2
Position in the midground with vertical space above — Afzelii grows upward and needs unobstructed vertical space for the tall leaves to develop fully. Place the plant where the leaves can reach their natural height without being crowded by adjacent plants or hardscape from above. A mid-tank position on driftwood with open water above and behind the plant allows the full lance-shaped leaf form to read clearly from the front of the tank.
3
Use low to medium light with a consistent photoperiod — Afzelii thrives under low to medium light at a consistent daily photoperiod of 8–10 hours. The slow-growing, long-lived leaves are susceptible to algae accumulation under excessive light intensity or extended photoperiods — keeping intensity moderate and photoperiod consistent is the most reliable way to maintain clean, algae-free leaves over the long term without active intervention.
4
Dose liquid fertilizer to support new leaf quality — while Anubias is often described as low-maintenance, consistent liquid fertilization — particularly iron — supports the development of richly colored, fully sized new leaves and maintains the deep green of established foliage. Without iron supplementation, new leaves on Afzelii can emerge noticeably paler than established ones, lacking the deep saturation that makes this variety distinctive.
💡 Bonus Tip
Afzelii and Anubias barteri var. nana on the same piece of driftwood is one of the most effective and underused pairings in the low-tech planted hobby — the long, upright lance leaves of Afzelii at the top and midpoint of the wood, and the compact, rounded leaves of Nana at the base and lower branches, create a natural layered hierarchy of leaf scale and height that mimics how plants actually grow along submerged wood in the wild. Same genus, same care, same hardware — entirely different visual contributions at each level.
🌿
Browse more aquatic plants
Pair Afzelii with Anubias Nana, Bucephalandra, or Windelov Fern for a complete low-tech hardscape planting. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.
→
