Care at a glance
Grows straight up in twisting columns, a distinctive look. Sensitive to high temperatures; struggles above 26 °C long-term.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquatic mosses.
Moss
Flame Moss
Taxiphyllum 'Flame'
AsiaIntermediate
TL;DR, Flame Moss
Grows straight up in twisting columns, a distinctive look. Sensitive to high temperatures; struggles above 26 °C long-term.
Flame Moss (Taxiphyllum 'Flame') is a moss aquatic moss native to Asia. Light: medium. CO₂: recommended. Growth rate: slow to medium. Target 20–26 °C and pH 5.5–7.5. Attach via wood, stone, grows vertically. Typical use: tall, flame-like accents on driftwood. Trimming: Trim sides to keep the upward 'flame' shape
Tank fit
The parameters that decide whether flame moss fits in your tank.
Parameters
15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C
4.05.06.07.08.0
Low
Medium
High
None
Optional
Recommended
Required
Slow
Medium
Fast
V. fast
Still
Low
Medium
High
V. high
Profile
Family
Hypnaceae
Type
Moss
Attachment
Wood, stone, grows vertically
Typical use
Tall, flame-like accents on driftwood
Trimming
Trim sides to keep the upward 'flame' shape
Habitat
Damp shaded banks of Southeast Asian streams
Asia
Who it lives with
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Pro tips
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Outstanding background or 'underwater grass' effect. Plant 3–5 small clumps spaced 4 cm apart at the rear of the tank — they grow upward to form columns. Trim sides only; never the top, or you lose the flame.
Things to watch for
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Things to watch for
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Algae
Algae issues
Algae attaches less than other mosses due to its upright structure exposing less surface to the water column.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes
1) Keeping it too warm — it suffers above 26 °C long-term. 2) Trimming the top — destroys the flame shape. 3) Tying flat — won't develop upright habit.
How to care for it
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
Tying / attachment
Attach to vertical surfaces or in tight clumps at the base — upright growth shows best from a small base.
Tank setup
Sensitive to high temperatures (>26 °C stunts and yellows it). Medium-high light maintains intense colour and upright habit.
Background
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
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In the wild
Where it lived before it came home.
Origin · Asia
Streams across tropical Asia.
Emersed form
Less commonly grown emersed — upright habit is mostly submerged.
Variants & identification
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Variants
Only the 'Flame' selection — no further cultivars.
Identification
Unique upright twisting growth — fronds spiral upward in flame-shaped columns.
Sister species
Peacock Moss, Spiky Moss — all Taxiphyllum cultivars.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
How do you attach Flame Moss in an aquarium?
Attachment: Wood, stone, grows vertically Typical aquascaping use: Tall, flame-like accents on driftwood
Does Flame Moss need CO₂?
CO₂: recommended. Light: medium. Growth rate: slow to medium.
What water parameters does Flame Moss need?
Flame Moss (Taxiphyllum 'Flame') tolerates 20–26 °C and pH 5.5–7.5. Flow: medium.
How do you trim Flame Moss?
Trim sides to keep the upward 'flame' shape
Is Flame Moss beginner-friendly?
Difficulty: 3/5. Intermediate, stable parameters and a mature tank matter.
Sources & further reading
More mosses
See all mossesAdjacent specimens in the catalogue.
Cross-references
Build the rest of the tank.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this moss with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
