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Cryptocoryne Lutea

Cryptocoryne Lutea

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Amount: Rhizome

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$7.00

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Description
Aquatic Plants

Cryptocoryne Lutea

A mid-sized Crypt with narrow, slightly undulate leaves in warm olive-green to yellow-green tones — the brightest and most warmly coloured Cryptocoryne in the catalog, filling the midground with a colour no other Crypt provides.

Warm Olive to Yellow-Green Leaves Mid-Sized Midground Crypt Slightly Undulate Leaf Margins No CO₂ Required Low to Medium Light Shrimp Safe

Cryptocoryne Lutea is a mid-sized Sri Lankan Cryptocoryne with narrow, slightly elongated leaves that develop a gentle undulation along their margins as they mature — a leaf form and colour combination that positions it as the warmest-toned Crypt in the catalog. Where Cryptocoryne Bronze sits in the warm brown-olive spectrum, Cryptocoryne Red in the red-brown range, and Pink Flamingo in soft rose, Lutea occupies a distinct warm yellow-green to olive-yellow zone — a brighter, more luminous green than most Crypts that provides a midground colour note no other species in the catalog replicates. It is a reliable, moderately sized Crypt — neither as small as Parva nor as tall as Balansae — that establishes steadily, tolerates low light, spreads by runners over time, and produces new leaves consistently once settled. Like all Crypts it will melt on introduction and recover. Fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and snails.

Not RequiredCO₂
72–82°FTemperature
Low–MedLighting
What to Expect

Colour, Growth & Behaviour

Warm yellow-green to olive colour distinct from every other Crypt — Lutea leaves are brighter and more yellow in tone than the deep olive-browns of Bronze or the muted greens of Parva and Balansae — a warm, slightly luminous green that catches available light and reflects it more actively than darker-toned Crypt species. The colour intensifies toward yellow-green under medium to high light and sits closer to olive-green under lower light, but remains distinctly warm and bright relative to the other Cryptocorynes in the catalog across all light levels. Narrow leaves with a gently undulate margin on mature growth — leaves are narrow and slightly elongated with a gentle undulation or waviness along the margins that becomes more pronounced on fully mature, full-sized leaves. The undulation is subtle — less dramatic than Balansae's deep crinkling — but adds a soft surface variation that catches light differently across the leaf face than a flat-margined leaf would. Individual leaves are clearly distinguished from each other at the midground scale Lutea occupies. Mid-sized — fits between Parva and Balansae in the Crypt height hierarchy — Lutea reaches 10–20cm in established specimens under good conditions, making it a genuine midground plant — taller than Parva and Pink Flamingo at the foreground-midground boundary, shorter than Balansae at the background scale. In a layout using multiple Crypt species across the substrate, Lutea occupies the middle height zone naturally and bridges the scale gap between foreground and background Crypt plantings. Melt on introduction is normal and temporary — like all Cryptocorynes, Lutea drops existing leaves when moved to a new tank. The rhizome survives and produces new submersed-adapted growth within two to four weeks. Leave completely undisturbed during the melt — do not uproot or reposition. New leaves emerge progressively over several weeks and will be the submersed form of the leaf, which may look slightly different from emersed-grown leaves shipped from the nursery. Spreads by runners to form a midground cluster over time — established Lutea produces short rhizome runners that develop daughter plants, gradually building a loose cluster of narrow yellow-green leaves across the midground. The spread is undemanding — runners appear and root without intervention, and the cluster can be left to develop naturally or individual plants separated and replanted to extend coverage more quickly. Roots deeply — substrate nutrition drives performance — Lutea feeds primarily through its roots and benefits directly from nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. In aquasoil it establishes quickly and produces full-sized leaves; in inert substrate without supplementation growth is slower and leaves remain smaller. Root tab renewal every three to four months sustains the nutrient supply that supports maximum leaf development.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1Plant in the midground with crown at substrate surface — position Lutea in the midground where its 10–20cm height works naturally between lower foreground plants and taller background plants or Vallisneria behind it. Push roots into substrate with the crown just at the surface — not buried. In a multi-Crypt layout, position Lutea between Parva at the front and Balansae at the rear to create a three-tier height gradient in a single genus.
2Use nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs — place root tabs within 5cm of the planting point if using inert substrate. Lutea's warm yellow-green colour is most vivid and leaves reach maximum size in adequately nourished substrate. Without supplementation the plant grows more slowly and leaves are smaller and paler than in properly supported conditions.
3Leave undisturbed through the melt period — do not move or reposition after planting. Remove only fully decomposed leaf matter. New growth will emerge from the crown within two to four weeks of the melt settling and will accelerate progressively as the root system establishes.
4Fertilise consistently with liquid formula and root tabs — dose balanced liquid fertiliser two to three times weekly. The warm colour of Lutea is maintained most vividly under consistent iron and micronutrient availability — plants in well-fertilised tanks produce the most distinctly yellow-green new leaves, while underfed plants tend toward a more muted, less differentiated green.
💡 Bonus Tip

Lutea planted immediately in front of a dark-toned Anubias barteri or Bucephalandra in the midground creates the most immediate warm-cool colour contrast available in the Cryptocoryne catalog without CO₂ — the bright yellow-green of Lutea against the deep cool green or dark iridescence of the Anubias or Buce behind it reads clearly across the tank and makes both plants more vivid than they are planted separately. The narrow leaf form of Lutea against the broader leaves of barteri adds a simultaneous scale and texture contrast that reinforces the colour difference.

🌿
Browse more aquatic plants

Pair Lutea with Balansae, Parva, Pink Flamingo, or Anubias for a complete planted layout. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.

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Policies & Disclaimers
Aquatic plants

Policies & Disclaimers

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.

Plant Promotion Details

Portions, sizes & what you receive

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.

Photos, color & natural variation

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.

Hitchhikers & introducing plants

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.

Arrival problems: document and contact us promptly

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.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping your plants

Plants ship Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday shipping available for 2-day or overnight services. Orders remain subject to stock, fulfillment timing and weather holds under our shipping policy. A shipping-service estimate is not a guaranteed dispatch date.

Plan to receive the package promptly and inspect it on arrival. Review the full shipping information for weather precautions, transit expectations and delivery issues. If your cart also contains live animals, review the shipping requirements for those animals as well.

Shipping Information

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Check the plant name, portion, quantity and selected option before completing checkout. Contact us before sending anything back; returns require prior written authorization under our existing policy. The full return policy explains the applicable conditions.

Return Policy

This tab explains the existing offer and policies alongside plant-care guidance. Care tips do not create new claim requirements or exclusions. Refer to the linked policies for complete terms.

    Cryptocoryne Lutea
    $7.00
    $7.00
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