Bucephalandra 'Apple Leaf' takes its name from the quality that defines it most immediately — broad, ovate leaves in a fresh, bright green that reads lighter and more open than the deep or dark tones typical of most Buce cultivars. Where the majority of the genus trends toward dark, shadowed greens with assertive iridescence or dramatic texture, 'Apple Leaf' is the exception: a cultivar with a clean, bright, genuinely cheerful character that works in a wider range of layout styles than almost any other Buce and pairs naturally with both the more dramatic collector cultivars and with common planted tank staples like Anubias and mosses. The broad ovate leaves carry a gentle iridescent sheen rather than a vivid one, accumulate biofilm readily, and provide a visual lightness that is genuinely useful in a planted tank dominated by dark hardscape and deep-toned plants. Like all Buce, it grows from a rhizome, attaches to driftwood and stone, requires no CO₂, and is fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and fry.
Not Required
CO₂
72–82°F
Temperature
Low–Med
Lighting
What to Expect
Growth & Behavior Over Time
Broad ovate leaves in a fresh, bright green — the leaf shape is wide and egg-shaped, broader at the midpoint and tapering gently at both ends, with a smooth surface and a clean bright green color that sits noticeably lighter than the typical Buce palette. New leaves emerge with a particularly vivid, almost translucent green that deepens slightly as they mature — a quality that gives the plant a perpetually fresh, lively appearance even as it ages.
Lighter tone makes it the brightest point on dark hardscape — on dark driftwood or against a dark substrate, the fresh green of 'Apple Leaf' functions as a natural highlight — a point of brightness that draws the eye without the assertiveness of a colored or patterned cultivar. This makes it particularly valuable in predominantly dark, moody layouts where visual contrast is needed without disrupting the overall mood.
Gentle iridescent sheen that complements rather than competes — the iridescent overlay on 'Apple Leaf' is softer and less assertive than the silver-blue of 'Artemis', the violet-pink of 'Biblis', or the vivid sheen of 'Crocodile'. It adds depth and a subtle luminosity to the leaf surface without drawing the kind of direct attention those cultivars do — the right quality for a plant whose primary contribution is brightness of tone rather than iridescent drama.
Broad leaves provide excellent biofilm surface area — the wide ovate leaves accumulate biofilm generously across their smooth surface, providing rich foraging territory for Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and snails. The pale, bright leaf color makes shrimp grazing across the surface highly visible — one of the more satisfying foraging observations in the shrimp tank for this reason.
Slow, steady rhizome growth with a spreading habit — 'Apple Leaf' grows at a pace typical of the genus, adding leaves gradually and expanding its rhizome laterally over time. The broad individual leaves mean a modest number of established leaves already creates a full, lush-looking plant — the wide form reads as more substantial than the leaf count alone would suggest.
Initial melting after introduction is common and temporary — like all Bucephalandra, 'Apple Leaf' often sheds older leaves when introduced to a new tank. New growth from the rhizome tip within two to four weeks confirms the plant has settled. The fresh bright green of new growth is usually the most vivid it will ever look — a rewarding sign of recovery.
How to Set It Up
Getting Started
1
Never bury the rhizome — the horizontal stem must remain fully above the substrate at all times. Burial causes rot that spreads through the plant quickly. Attach to hardscape or rest on the substrate surface with the rhizome completely exposed.
2
Attach to driftwood or stone in a visible position — secure the rhizome to driftwood or porous rock with thread or super glue gel. Position the plant where the broad, bright leaves face outward toward open water — the fresh green tone and wide leaf form contribute most to a layout when they can be seen clearly and contrast directly against the darker tones of the hardscape behind them.
3
Place in low to medium light — 'Apple Leaf' is shade-tolerant and grows well at low light levels, but medium lighting brings out the brightest, most vivid green and the most noticeable iridescent sheen on established leaves. Avoid high-intensity positions that risk algae growth on the slow-developing leaf surface.
4
Dose liquid fertilizer consistently — as an epiphyte, 'Apple Leaf' draws all nutrition through its leaves from the water column. A balanced liquid fertilizer routine covering macros and micros sustains the fresh green coloration, supports new leaf production, and maintains the gentle iridescent quality of established leaves over the long term.
💡 Bonus Tip
'Apple Leaf' is the most natural pairing with Anubias in the entire Buce catalog — the broad ovate leaf form of 'Apple Leaf' and the thick, glossy leaves of Anubias barteri share a similar scale and structural character, but the bright fresh green of 'Apple Leaf' against the deep, near-black green of mature Anubias creates exactly the kind of tonal contrast that makes a low-tech hardscape planting look considered and complete without any additional plants.
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Browse more aquatic plants
Pair 'Apple Leaf' with Anubias, other Buce cultivars, or mosses for a bright, complete low-tech planted layout. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.
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