Nuphar lutea

Nuphar lutea is the familiar yellow-flowered pond lily of European and Asian waterways, valued in the aquarium hobby in its smaller, aquarium-adapted form. Its submerged leaves are broad, arrow-shaped to kidney-shaped, olive to dark green, and translucent, growing on long petioles from a thick, nutritious rhizome. In the aquarium it prefers cooler temperatures below 22°C and tolerates hard water, making it an excellent choice for temperate biotopes alongside goldfish or native coldwater species. It grows from the rhizome and rewards root nutrition.

Light: Medium (30–50 PAR); adapts to standard aquarium lighting. CO2: Not required; grows in low-tech setups. Fertiliser: Root tab placed beside the rhizome every 3–4 months; liquid fertiliser monthly. Planting: Lay rhizome horizontally on or just below the substrate; background position; cool water (14–22°C) preferred. Growth: Moderate in cool water; reaches 20–50 cm; trim old petioles at the rhizome base.