Bucephalandra is a small-leaved genus. 'Giant Broad Leaf' is the exception — wide, thick, paddle-shaped leaves in deep green with a blue-metallic sheen under the right light. It is still a Buce, so it still grows about an inch a year; you are buying leaf size, not speed. What You'll Receive Sold as loose bare-root plants: 1 Plant: Loose bare-root with approximately 6+ leaves 5 Plants: Loose bare-root with approximately 25+ leaves total 10 Plants: Loose bare-root with approximately 50+ leaves total Plant Profile Common name — Giant Broad Leaf Buce Scientific name — Bucephalandra sp. 'Giant Broad Leaf' Also known as — Buce Giant Broad Leaf Origin — Borneo, Indonesia Placement — Midground, attached to hardscape Mature height — 4-6 inches Growth rate — Slow Care Difficulty — Beginner Light — Low to medium CO₂ — Not required, though it speeds an already slow plant Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5 Substrate — None needed; tie or glue the rhizome to wood or rock Growth habit — Amphibious epiphyte, feeds from roots and water column Propagation — Rhizome division Grower's Notes "Giant" means 4 to 6 inches, not enormous. Among Bucephalandra that is genuinely large — most varieties ship around 2-3 inches — but set expectations against the genus, not against a sword plant. Expect roughly an inch of growth per year. Broad leaves do not mean fast growth. The plant you receive is close to the plant you will have in six months, which is exactly why it holds a scape's shape without trimming. Never bury the rhizome. The horizontal stem must sit in open water, tied or glued to a surface. Buried, it rots — and at this growth rate the loss is not recoverable in a season. The blue sheen needs an angle. Metallic iridescence on Buce shows when light strikes the leaf sideways. Mounted flat and viewed from above it simply reads dark green — position it on the side of wood or rock instead. Melt after shipping is normal. Leaves may drop in the first fortnight while the rhizome settles. Leave it attached and undisturbed; new growth comes from the rhizome, not the old leaves. Want to go deeper? Read our complete Bucephalandra Care Guide. Notes Like most Bucephalandra, slight leaf melt may occur after introduction as the plant adjusts to new conditions. This is temporary—new submersed leaves will regrow from the rhizome once the plant stabilizes. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
