Crinum calamistratum

Crinum calamistratum originates from the fast-flowing rivers of Central Africa (Cameroon and Nigeria) and is distinguished by its exceptionally narrow leaves — often less than 1 cm wide — that are tightly crinkled along their entire length. These long, spiralling, ribbon-like leaves can reach over a metre in large tanks and are visually unlike almost any other aquarium plant. It is remarkably tolerant of low light and hard water, thriving in conditions that would defeat most other large background plants.

Light: Low to medium (15–45 PAR); one of the most low-light-tolerant large aquarium plants available. CO2: Not required; grows without injection even in very dim conditions. Planting: Plant bulb with the upper quarter to third above the substrate; do not fully bury. Maintenance: Trim damaged leaf tips; remove old leaves at the base; allow the bulb to settle for months before expecting rapid growth. Note: Extremely slow-growing initially — the bulb may take several months to establish before producing new leaves.