Anacharis (Egeria Densa) : Complete Care Guide

Anacharis, also known as Egeria densa, is a popular plant in the aquarium world. With its origin in South America (Brazil, Argentine, and Uruguay), this submersed plant has now made its way to warm waterbodies across the globe. Anacharis is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in deep, slow-flowing or stagnant water.

Anacharis is an easy-to-care-for aquatic plant that adds a touch of greenery to your aquarium. Whether you’re an experienced aquarist or just starting out, this aquatic plant is the perfect choice for your tank. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know to give your Anacharis the best possible chance at success.

The Basics of Anacharis

Anacharis is a perennial plant that belongs to the Hydrocharitaceae family and is native to Southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It’s a hardy species that has been introduced to many other countries, including Chile, Mexico, North America, East Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe.

The plant has a 2-3mm thick stem that is hard and fragile and is covered in dense leaves. The leaves are sessile and grow in 4-merous whorls, and they have a narrow, oblong shape that is slightly recurved and transparent. The petals of the flower are white and twice as large as the sepals, and the flowers are either male or female.

Growing Anacharis: A Walk in the Park

Anacharis is an undemanding plant that is easy to grow in your aquarium. It’s a popular choice for aquarium enthusiasts because it can grow free-floating or implanted and adapts well to soft, acid water. It will thrive in lime-rich water with a higher pH, and it’s a good oxygen provider due to its rapid growth.

Water Parameters

One of the best things about Anacharis is that it’s incredibly adaptable when it comes to water parameters. Whether you’re keeping it in a tropical or temperate aquarium, this plant has got you covered. Here’s what you need to know to keep your Anacharis happy and healthy:

Temperature: Anacharis does best in warm waters, with ideal temperatures ranging from 20 to 24°C (68 to 75°F). However, it’s known to be hardy and can adapt to temperatures as low as 60°F (15°C) and as high as 82°F (28°C).

pH Levels: Anacharis prefers neutral pH levels, with a range of 6.5 to 7.5.

Water Hardness: Anacharis is also adaptable when it comes to water hardness, with a range of 3 to 8 kDH.

Trimming & Pruning

Your Anacharis will need a little TLC every once in a while. This is because the plant will prioritize its energy towards growing tall, and eventually, the stem will reach the water’s surface. But don’t worry, the stem is usually not strong enough to keep growing into the air, and even if it could, it wouldn’t survive long without water.

Luckily, trimming is a simple process. All you have to do is cut the stem above a whorl of leaves. The plant will do a great job of healing no matter where you cut it.

As for pruning, you won’t have to do much of it. Anacharis doesn’t require much pruning, but you can cut off any side-shooting stems if you choose to. However, many aquarists choose to keep these stems as they add density to the plant.

Tank Mates

Anacharis is a great plant for any freshwater aquarium, and it does well with most fish species. It’s a tall plant, so it provides benefits to all species in the water column.

Tropical fish and species from Central and South America do well with Anacharis. Popular tank mates include Tetras and Cory Catfish, and popular Tetra species such as the Neon Tetra and Black Skirt Tetra love this plant. Shrimp, such as cherry shrimp, also love Anacharis. They will use the leaves for food, hiding, and protection.

Avoid fish species that are known plant-eaters, such as Cichlids and most types of Goldfish. Anacharis is too delicate for these fish and they can easily uproot and destroy the plant.

Propagation

Propagating Anacharis is a breeze! This plant doesn’t produce rhizomes, tubers, or plantlets, but it does make side-growing stems and more height.

To propagate Anacharis, simply cut the stem and plant it in the same way as you did initially. The cut portion will develop roots, and the propagated stem should ideally be 5 inches (12.7 cm) or more. Anything less than that might struggle to get established.

Anacharis: A Plant with Many Uses

Anacharis is a versatile plant that can be found in stagnant or slow-moving, usually deeper waters, in an acid, humus-rich environment, or in eutrophic water rich in lime. It’s easy to distinguish from other plants in the family, such as Lagarosiphon, due to its whorled, soft leaves. The leaf structure, flowers, and nectaries are essential features for differentiation, and the leaf arrangement, leaf size, and color can be used as additional criteria for aquarium enthusiasts.

Where to Buy Anacharis

It’s easy to find Anacharis at your local fish store or even at a garden center as a pond plant. During the warm season, it grows exceptionally well and can be an excellent addition to your aquarium setup. However, it may not be hardy enough for ponds in central European climates.

Distinguishing Anacharis from Other Waterweeds

Waterweeds are often mixed up, with species such as Egeria, Elodea, Hydrilla, and Lagarosiphon being frequently confused. Elodea species are not commonly found in the hobby. To differentiate Anacharis from other species, look for the following characteristics:

• Leaves partially in whorls, partially irregular alternate => Lagarosiphon
• Leaves only in whorls => Egeria, Hydrilla
• Leaf margin smooth at first glance (though finely toothed when viewed with a magnifying glass); overall, internodes (bare stem parts between leaf whorls) in the lower (=older) part of the stem are shorter than the leaves => Egeria densa
• Leaf margin clearly toothed (teeth well visible to the naked eye); overall, internodes (bare stem parts between leaf whorls) in the lower (=older) part of the stem are shorter than the leaves; underside of the leaf midrib without warts or spikes => Egeria najas
• Leaf margin pronouncedly toothed (teeth well visible to the naked eye); internodes (bare stem parts between leaf whorls) in the lower (=older) part of the stem are longer than the leaves; underside of the leaf midrib often with warts or spikes => Hydrilla verticillata

Easy to Grow and Maintain

Anacharis is one of the easiest water plants to grow and maintain, making it an ideal choice for aquarium enthusiasts. It can grow as a floating plant or anchored in the substrate and thrives under almost any conditions. Colder temperatures and hard water rich in calcium are preferred, but it can also tolerate higher temperatures for a short time without halting growth. Soft water just slows down growth slightly. Anacharis doesn’t require CO2 fertilization, but additional CO2 can speed up growth even further.

A Stunning Aquarium Display

While keeping Anacharis as part of a decorative setup in an aquarium can be challenging due to its rapid growth and low tolerance of higher temperatures, trimming regularly can result in a stunning background plant with deep green leaves that contrast beautifully with other plants.

Appearance and Description

Anacharis grows in water up to 4 meters (13 feet) deep. Its trailing stems can reach up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) or more, with roots growing at intervals along the stem. The leaves grow in whorls of four to eight, with a length of 1-4 cm (0.39-1.57 inches) and a width of 2-5 mm (0.079-0.197 inches), and they have a pointed leaf tip. When the stem system of the plant reaches the surface of the water, it spreads out, creating a thick flower canopy that blocks light from reaching the plants below it.

Anacharis is dioecious, meaning that it has male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are 12-20 mm (0.47-0.79 inches) in diameter, with three broad, rounded, white petals. The petals on male plants are 8-10 mm (0.31-0.39 inches) long, while on female plants, they are 6-7 mm (0.24-0.28 inches) long.

The Life Cycle of Anacharis

Anacharis typically displays little variation in growth patterns throughout the year when grown in tropical environments. However, when grown in more moderate environments, the plant spends most of its energy on starch production and storage in the winter and canopy growth during the summer season.

An Interesting Use

This plant even has some amazing benefits for the aquarium ecosystem – it secretes antibiotic substances that can help prevent blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria)!

Economics

Egeria densa is not only a pretty plant for your aquarium, but it’s also a valuable tool for wastewater treatment plants. Due to its ability to uptake nutrients and sediment particles from the water column, it’s highly effective in treating wastewater.

In the Pond

Anacharis is comfortable in temperatures ranging from 16-28 °C (61-82 °F), with an upper temperature limit of 32 °C (90 °F). This means that colder temperatures will limit the growth of the plant and can be used as a method of controlling its spread in non-native ecosystems. When it comes to lighting, Anacharis is able to match its photosynthetic output to available light like many other macrophyte species. This means that it can thrive in low light conditions and can form a dense canopy, making it a very successful invader compared to other macrophytes.

Invasive Species

Anacharis may be a popular aquarium plant, but it’s become an invasive species in many parts of the world. From Europe to North America, southern Africa to New Zealand, and even as far north as Iceland, this plant has caused significant harm to the local ecosystem. It forms thick mats that block boat passage, clog water intakes, and trap sediments, leading to the decline of native vegetation and migration of anadromous fish.

Interesting Fact: In the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California, Anacharis has impacted 2,400 hectares (5,900 acres) of the delta’s surface area.

Role as Ecosystem Engineer

Egeria densa has earned the title of an ecosystem engineer due to its impact on the environment once introduced. Its fast growth and high dispersal rate, ability to adapt to different light and nutrient availability, and its uptake of nutrients from the water column, all contribute to its role as an ecosystem engineer. The dense canopy of flowers it forms at the surface of the water blocks light, changing the amount of phytoplankton present in the water column.

While this can have negative effects, it can also provide shelter for smaller invertebrates and zooplankton. Additionally, the decline of Anacharis has been linked to the decline of black-necked swan populations, as they feed on the plant.

Control in Ponds & Water Bodies

Due to its ability to regrow when fragmented, controlling the growth of Anacharis can be a challenge. The best way to do so is to remove the plant in its entirety or use herbicides to kill it. Water drawdowns and cold weather have also been found to be effective in controlling the plant, but they have practical limitations. When herbicides are applied, the levels of phosphorus and nitrogen increase, but most of the nutrients remain in the plant biomass and don’t reabsorb into the water column.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Anacharis (Egeria densa) is a wonder plant that is easy to grow, versatile, and beautiful. Whether you’re a seasoned aquarium enthusiast or a beginner, this plant is sure to add a touch of magic to your underwater world. So why wait? Get your hands on some Anacharis today and experience the beauty of this amazing plant for yourself!

Taxonomy

Anacharis (Egeria densa) is a species of aquatic plant that belongs to the family Hydrocharitaceae. The genus Egeria is named after Egeria, a nymph in Roman mythology who was known for her wisdom and writing. The species name densa refers to the plant’s dense growth habit, which makes it an ideal background plant in aquariums. Anacharis is a monocot, which means it has one embryonic leaf and parallel veins in its leaves. It is a popular and easy-to-care-for plant making it a valuable addition to the taxonomy of aquatic plants.

Tim Priest

Tim Priest, a renowned aquarium expert with over 15 years of experience in aquatic gardening and fish education, is dedicated to helping enthusiasts create stunning and thriving aquatic environments. As the founder of LearnTheAquarium.com, Tim shares his wealth of knowledge, passion, and expertise through engaging articles, educational resources, and personalized advice.

Discover the secrets to creating captivating underwater landscapes and maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Join Tim on an exciting journey and let your aquarium adventure begin!