Microsorum Pteropus - Java Fern 'Windelov' - Tropica

Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' | A Classic and Elegant Fern for Any Aquarium

Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' is one of the most beloved and iconic aquarium plants in the hobby — a patented variety of the classic Java Fern, named in honour of Holger Windeløv, the founder of Tropica, one of the world's most respected aquatic plant nurseries. What sets 'Windeløv' apart from the standard Java Fern is its extraordinary leaf tips — each frond ends in a delicate, finely branched, lace-like fork that gives the plant an intricate, almost coral-like appearance that is genuinely unlike anything else in the planted aquarium hobby. Growing to approximately 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) tall and wide, it forms a beautifully structured, medium-sized specimen that works equally well as a foreground accent, midground feature, or hardscape plant.

Hardy, undemanding, and resistant to plant-eating fish, 'Windeløv' is as practical as it is beautiful — an ideal choice for aquarists of all experience levels and one of the few plants that genuinely thrives in low-tech setups with no CO2 and minimal lighting.

Care at a Glance

• Scientific name: Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv'
• Also known as: Windeløv Java Fern, Lace Java Fern, Tropica Java Fern
• Origin: Cultivar — named after Tropica founder Holger Windeløv
• Type: Rhizomatous
• Growth rate: Slow
• Height: 6–8 inches (15–20 cm)
• Width: 6–8 inches (15–20 cm)
• Light demand: Low — tolerates a wide range of lighting conditions
• CO2: Not required
• Best placement: Foreground to midground, attached to hardscape

Planting Tips

Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' is best attached to driftwood, rocks, or other hardscape using fishing line, thread, or aquarium-safe glue, where it will gradually root itself in place and spread naturally over time. It can also be planted in substrate, but the rhizome — the thick horizontal stem from which the leaves and roots emerge — must remain fully exposed above the surface at all times. Burying the rhizome will cause it to rot and kill the plant.

New plantlets frequently develop along the edges and tips of mature leaves — these can be left to develop on the parent plant for a fuller, more lush appearance, or carefully removed and attached elsewhere once they have developed a few roots of their own.

Fish Safe — Even With Plant Eaters

One of the most practical advantages of Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' is that it is not consumed by herbivorous fish — its tough, leathery leaves are left alone by even the most enthusiastic plant-eating species. This makes it one of the very few genuinely decorative plants suitable for tanks with goldfish, large cichlids, Silver Dollars, and other notorious plant destroyers.

Compatible With

• All community fish, shrimp, and snails
• One of the few plants suitable for tanks with herbivorous or plant-eating fish
• Ideal for low-tech setups, beginner aquariums, and hardscape-focused aquascapes
• Particularly stunning when attached to driftwood where its lace-like fronds can spread and be fully appreciated