Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia, commonly sold as Anubias coffeefolia, is a highly distinctive variety of Anubias barteri recognized for its deeply corrugated, strongly bullate (blistered) leaf texture that closely resembles the foliage of the terrestrial coffee plant (Coffea species) — hence the common name. This unusual corrugated texture, created by a pattern of deep veins and raised sections between them, gives the plant a rich, three-dimensional appearance quite unlike the smooth or gently undulating leaves of other Anubias varieties. The leaves are broad, ovate, dark green when mature, and emerge from the rhizome in an attractive spreading rosette. One of the most ornamental features is the consistent bronze-red coloration of new leaves as they first unfurl from the growing tip of the rhizome; this fresh growth contrasts beautifully with the mature deep green of older leaves, providing visual dynamism even in a slow-growing plant. Anubias coffeefolia is native to West and Central Africa and grows as a riverbank and riparian plant in its natural habitat. In the aquarium it is kept as an epiphyte in the same manner as all Anubias species — rhizome attached to hardscape, roots free to spread into the water column. It occupies the midground naturally due to its size, typically reaching 20–30 cm in height with leaves up to 15–20 cm long. The textured leaf surface makes it somewhat more prone to algae accumulation in high-light conditions, as detritus and algae spores settle into the corrugations. Keeping light low and the tank clean prevents most issues. Overall, Anubias coffeefolia is one of the most rewarding and visually interesting Anubias species for intermediate aquascapes seeking textural complexity.
