VerdantAquarium field guide
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An Iwagumi aquascape with one dominant stone, supporting rocks, and an open carpeting meadow.
Aquascaping styleCore aquascaping traditions

Core aquascaping traditions

Iwagumi

Iwagumi is a disciplined stone-led tradition. One primary rock carries the composition, supporting stones reinforce its direction, and a limited plant palette keeps attention on proportion, rhythm, and negative space. Low carpeting plants create the sensation of an open meadow beneath water.

StoneMinimalCarpetNegative space

01

The look

A restrained odd-numbered group of weathered gray stones emerging from a fine carpet, with one unmistakable master stone and broad calm areas of open substrate.

02

Common hardscape

The materials that give this style its structure and sense of place.

  • Seiryu stone
  • Ohko / dragon stone
  • Odd-numbered stone groupings
  • Fine light substrate

03

Commonly used plants

Plant choices that suit this style. Follow any linked species into the encyclopedia for full care details.

Monte CarloMicranthemum umbrosum ‘Monte Carlo’Dwarf hairgrass ‘Mini’Eleocharis pusilla ‘Mini’Staurogyne repensStaurogyne repensGlossostigmaGlossostigma elatinoides

From the encyclopedia

Plants for this style

All plants