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Bucephalandra Apple Leaf

Bucephalandra Apple Leaf

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Amount: Rhizome

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Description

 

Aquatic Plants

Bucephalandra 'Apple Leaf'

Broad, ovate leaves with a fresh bright-green tone and a gentle iridescent sheen — the most approachable and layout-friendly Buce in the catalog.

Broad Ovate Leaf Form Bright Fresh Green Gentle Iridescent Sheen Rhizome — Do Not Bury Low to Medium Light No CO₂ Required

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.

🌿
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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Aquatic plants

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Choosing your portions, using the plant promotion, and knowing what to expect when your plants arrive.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free: add all three

Choose three eligible plant items and add all three to your cart, including the plant you want free. The discount applies automatically at checkout; no code is needed. Adding only two items does not add a third plant for you.

Mix and match eligible varieties or choose multiple quantities of the same eligible plant. The least expensive eligible item is free. For example, with eligible items priced at $5, $8 and $10, the $5 item is discounted and the plant subtotal is $18 before shipping and tax.

The offer repeats for complete qualifying groups: three eligible items give one free, six give two free, and nine give three free. The current offer has no per-order use limit. Items must be included in the promotion; Plant Weights and other non-plant accessories do not qualify.

An item means the sale unit in your cart. One bunch, cup, portion or multipack counts as one item when purchased at quantity one, not one item for every stem, leaf or bulb inside it. Check the listing and selected option for what each unit contains.

Check the discount and quantities in your order summary before paying. Other promotions can affect the final discount; multiple product discounts do not stack on the same item. This is an online checkout offer, not an automatic in-store POS discount.

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Read this plant’s description and selected option for its sale format, portion size and any stated stem or plant count. A bunch, loose portion, rooted plant, bulb, cup and mounted plant are different products; there is no single size or count that applies to every plant we sell.

A mature height or spread describes potential growth in an aquarium, not the size shipped. Use the advertised purchase portion to plan your order. A full carpet, dense moss-covered surface or established group in a photograph may require several portions and time to grow.

Do not assume that a pot, planting weight, rock, wood, substrate or other display accessory is included unless the listing explicitly says it is. If the received portion appears different from the selected listing, photograph it with its packaging and contact us promptly.

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Photos illustrate the named plant or variety and its appearance. Living plants vary in leaf size, shape, root development, branching and fullness; a photo of an established specimen is not a measurement of each portion shipped. The product description and selected option remain the reference for your purchase.

Aquarium lighting, camera settings and the growing environment affect perceived color. Red or pink varieties can look different under different lighting and growing conditions. Do not use a photograph alone to select a plant’s care requirements or expect immediate mature coloration.

Above-water growth & the transition underwater

Some aquarium plants can grow with their leaves above water as well as submerged. These growth forms can have different leaf shapes and appearances. New underwater growth may look different from older leaves as the plant adjusts. This explanation does not mean every plant is supplied in the same growth form; follow any specific information in the listing.

Leaf loss or softening after a change of environment is often called melt. Look at the plant as a whole and its growing points rather than judging only one older leaf. Do not assume that a damaged plant is simply transitioning or wait for new growth before reporting an arrival problem.

This is background care information, not a new exclusion from the Live Arrival Guarantee. Arrival damage is assessed under the existing policy.

Planting: match the method to the plant

For stem plants, separate the stems and plant with room between them. For rosette plants, position the roots in the substrate without burying the crown. Remove transport bindings and growing material carefully where appropriate.

For Anubias and Java fern, keep the rhizome exposed rather than burying it. Moss can be divided into smaller portions and attached to suitable hardscape. Floating plants belong at the surface. Bulbs and tubers need species-specific planting depth; do not assume every type should be fully buried.

Keep plants damp while working. Follow the individual listing for placement and care, especially when a plant has unusual requirements. These are planting tips, not additional conditions for a claim.

Growth, tank conditions & choosing companions

Plan for the plant’s mature size, available light and the space it will occupy. A background stem plant, slow-growing rhizome plant and floating plant serve different roles; a purchase portion does not instantly create a finished aquascape.

Use the listing’s guidance on light, nutrients and carbon dioxide rather than assuming every plant needs the same setup. Growth rate and final appearance depend on aquarium conditions and maintenance. More light alone is not a substitute for a balanced setup.

Consider animals that dig, uproot or eat plants before choosing placement. Floating growth can shade plants below it, and fast-growing plants may need thinning. Observe new growth and make gradual, species-appropriate adjustments.

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Our existing policy does not guarantee pest-free arrival. Plants can carry tiny organisms or eggs, including snail eggs, despite inspection. Inspect new plants before introduction, and consider separate observation or quarantine to protect an established aquarium.

Do not assume a plant is sterile, pesticide-free or safe for a particular treatment unless the listing explicitly provides that information. Sensitive leaves, mosses and roots can respond differently to dips. Research the exact plant and any treatment before using it; do not apply an animal medication or a strong dip by default.

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For damaged or dead plants, email support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time. Use the email address on the order and include all arrival concerns in your first message.

Send clear photographs of the affected plants and their packaging, with the shipping label or invoice visible for identification. Photograph packaging damage before unpacking or discarding materials, and consult the full guarantee’s documentation instructions. Keep the original photos.

The current guarantee covers aquatic plants but excludes promotional or free items. That existing exclusion also matters when ordering a free promotional plant. Claims and available resolutions are assessed under the full policy; this tab does not expand or reduce coverage.

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Return Policy

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    Bucephalandra Apple Leaf
    $12.00
    $12.00
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