PlantStem

Green Cabomba

Cabomba caroliniana

Eastern North America to South AmericaEasy

TL;DR, Green Cabomba

Feathery fan-shaped whorls of leaves, the classic 'fluffy green' background plant. Demanding of light; melts away in low-tech tanks and resents being uprooted. Tolerates cooler water than most tropicals (down to 18 °C). Listed as invasive in some warm-water regions, check before disposing of cuttings.

Green Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) is a stem aquatic plant for the background of a planted tank. It reaches 30–80 cm under good conditions and grows at a fast rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: recommended. Target 18–26 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate. Propagate via cuttings.

LightMedium to High
CO₂Recommended

Care at a glance

Updated 23 May 20261 min read

Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.

Leaves yellowing, pitting, or new growth coming in pale or twisted? Work out what it’s short of in our plant deficiency guide.

Tank fit

The parameters that decide whether green cabomba fits in your tank.

Parameters

Temperature18–26 °C

15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C

pH5.5–7.5

4.05.06.07.08.0

Hardness2–15 dGH

0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH

Height30–80 cm

020406080

LightMedium to High

Low

Medium

High

CO₂Recommended

None

Optional

Recommended

Required

GrowthFast

Slow

Medium

Fast

V. fast

FlowLow to Medium

Still

Low

Medium

High

V. high

Profile

Family

Cabombaceae

Type

Stem

Position

Background

Substrate

Nutrient-rich substrate

Propagation

Cuttings

Habitat

Slow vegetated rivers and ponds across the Americas

Eastern North America to South America

Kit for this plant

Who it lives with

Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.

Weighing it against something similar? Compare Green Cabomba head to head:

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.

Does Green Cabomba need CO₂?

CO₂ requirement: recommended. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a fast rate.

What light level does Green Cabomba need?

Green Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.

Where should Green Cabomba be planted?

Position: background. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate It typically reaches 30–80 cm.

How do you propagate Green Cabomba?

Propagation method: Cuttings. Green Cabomba is a stem plant.

What water parameters does Green Cabomba tolerate?

Target 18–26 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.

Is Green Cabomba suitable for beginners?

Difficulty: 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled.

Sources & further reading

More plants

Adjacent specimens in the catalogue.

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Plant

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Anubias barteri var. nana

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BeginnerWest Africa (Cameroon)