Common Aquarium Plants

Below are some commonly available aquarium plants. Don't forget to review our aquarium plants main page and to purchase some aquarium plant care products and fertilizers, prior to purchasing your aquarium plants.

Plant Name			Description
Substrate	Light	pH		Hardness	Temp.
African Tiger Lotus Nymphaea maculata			West Africa aquarium plant. The upper part of the leaves are a brownish red to subdued red with the bottom of the leaf being a bright purple growing up to 18"
gravel	bright	6.5-7.2		Wide Range	68-86 F
African Water Fern Bolbitis heudelotii			Originating in tropical West Africa with a dark green to black shoots growing up to 12 inches long.
Attach to rocks, bogwood	subdued	6.5-7.2		Wide Range	72-82 F
Amazon Sword Plant Echinodorus bleheri (paniculatus)			Amazon River plant readily available. Best if planted in center of the tank. Excellent plant to have when attempting to raise and breed Angelfish and Discus.
gravel with nutrients	normal	6.5-7.2		Soft	72-82 F
Anubius Anubius Barteri,var nana			Origin is Cameroon, Africa. A creeping type of plant that gets about 4 inches tall. A nice flowering plant. Does very well when planting 3 plants 2.5 - 3 inches apart.
gravel with nutrients	subdued to normal	6.2-7.2		Soft	72-82 F
Aponogeton undulatus			Origin is Sri Lanka needing iron enriched fertilizer to thrive. A great plant by its self or in groups. This plant has a dormant stage. See Laceleaf plant / Madagascar Lace plant
gravel	bright	6.5-7.2		Soft	72-86 F
Banana Plant Nymphoides aquatica			From the southern Atlantic coast of the USA. Does well in in shallow bright light waters.
gravel	bright	6.8-8.0		Wide Range	68-77 F
Borneo Sword/Malayan Sword Aglaonema simples			A slow growing, low temperature plant. From Malaysia. Grows to 15 inches in height. Leaves are reddish in color when young turning to dark green as they get older. Propagate by dividing the rhizome.
gravel	Moderate	6.8-7.6		Soft	73 - 78 F
Broad-leaf Amazon Sword Plant Echinodorus paniculatus also known as E.bleheri			Most common of the sword plants, this plant is very tolerant of water conditions. It does well in hard water. The color can range from a pale green to a vivid green making it a center piece of your show tank.
gravel	Moderate	6.6-8.0		Wide Range	68-81 F
Dwarf Anubias Anubias nana			Origin is West Africa. Adapting to aquarium conditions quickly. Grows to a maximum of 6 inches. A very forgiving plant, making it a great choice for beginners as well as the advanced aquarist.
gravel	Low or subdued	6.4-8.0		Wide Range	64-80 F
Dwarf Cryp Cryptocoryne nevillii			Origin Sri Lanka, this is a good foreground plant attaining a height of 4 inches. Plant in group of 5-7.
Fine gravel	bright	6.6-7.8		Wide Range	68-80 F
Dwarf Four Leaf Clover Marsilea crenata			Carpeting type plant adapting to aquarium conditions quickly. A great foreground plant. Grows to a maximum of 4 inches tall. A very forgiving plant, making it a great choice for beginners as well as the advanced aquarist.
gravel	Low or subdued	6.4-8.2		Wide range	64-82 F
Dwarf Hygro Hygrophila polysperma			Origin Sri Lanka this is a good midground plant attaining a height of 18 inches. Planting in groups of 5-7 seems best for this plant.
gravel	Bright	6.4-7.8		Wide Range	59-86 F
Dwarf Sagittaria Sagittaria subulata var. subulata			A grassy like plant growing to a maximum of two inches tall. A very forgiving plant accepting most water conditions. Does well in groups of 5-7
gravel	Moderate	6.5-7.2		Wide Range	55-79 F
Elodia Egeria densa elodia			A common tall aquarium plant that is very easy and very forgiving in conditions. Does well in groups of 5-7, while also serving as an excellent thicket for fry fish to hide and feed.
gravel	Moderate to Bright	Wide Range		Wide Range	55-79 F
Green Cabomba Cabomba caroliniana			Readily available plant, used for decoration as well as for breeding fish. Very wide range of conditions. Can be planted or floated in cluster for cover for fry fish.
gravel	Moderate	6.4-82		Wide Range	55-77 F
Giant Ambulia Limnophila aquatica			Origin is India and Sri Lanka this plant similar to Cabomba. Grows to rapidly and large. Usually does well in groups of 5-7 individuals planted about 2.5 inches apaart.
gravel	Bright	6.0-7.4		Wide Range	68-77 F
Giant Cryp Crypyocoryne blassii			Thailand. Leaves can vary from olive green to a wine red. Growing to 12 inches.
gravel	Moderate	5-11		Wide Range	77 F
Hornwort Ceratophyllum sumersum			Readily available aquarium plant. Excellent for breeding fish. A floating plant requiring a lot of light.
Floating	Bright	6.2-8.2		Wide Range	50-82 F
Indian Fern Ceratopteris thalictroids			A true water fern that can be planted of left as a floating plant. Ranging in color from yellows to dark greens.
gravel	Bright	6.2-8.2		Wide Range	68-77 F
Japanese Rush Acorus gramineus			A slow growing, low temperature plant. From Eastern Asia. Grows to 12 inches in height. Propagate by dividing the rhizome.
gravel	Moderate	6.8 to 7.5		Wide Range	60-72 F
Java Fern Microsorium pteropus			A hardy fern with a complete lack of regard for water conditions. You don't plant this one, just sit it in the aquarium or on a log it will attach it self.
Not applicable	Subdued	Wide Range		Wide Range	68-77 F
Java Moss Vesicularia dubyana			A thick and creeping type of tangled mass from Southeast Asia. Light to dark green in color depending on the light. Excellent for cover for many types of fry fsih
Rocks or driftwood	Subdued	6.2-8.2		Wide Range	66-78 F
Laceleaf plant Madagascar Lace plant Aponogeton madagacariensis >			Requires hard, but very clean water. A somewhat difficult plant to grow, requiring medium light. Leaves are up to thirteen inches in length. A very good center piece plant. This plant does go into "hiding" as the tuber seems unable to store nutrients. At this time the leaves disintegrate. Just wait it out as the plant will start another growth cycle. This is when most aquarist make the mistake of throwing out the plant, a little patience will go a long way with the Lace Plant.
gravel	Moderate	5.5.6.5		On the hard side	59-77 F
Malayan Sword Borneo Sword Aglaonema simples			A slow growing, low temperature plant. From Malaysia. Grows to 15 inches in height. Leaves are reddish in color when young turning to dark green as they get older. Propagate by dividing the rhizome.
gravel	Moderate	6.5-7.2		Soft	66-78 F
Orchid Lily Barclaya longifolia			A very beautiful addition to any aquarium. This plant is also a tuber, with a deep reddish purple color.
gravel rich in nutrients	Normal	6.8-7.2		Soft	77-86 F
Oriental Water Fern Certoperis thalictroides			Grows up to 20 inches tall. Has dense rosette, with light green leafy blades. Grows rapidly, reproducing readily in most aquariums. Plant in bunches of four to seven for best effect.
gravel	Normal	6.6-7.8		Wide Range	72-68 F
Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris			Grows up to 3 inches tall making it an excellent foreground plant. Has light green leafy blades. Grows rapidly, reproducing readily in most aquariums. Plant in bunches of four to seven for best effect.
Fine gravel	Bright	6.4-7.8		Wide Range	50-77 F
Pygmy Chain Swordplant Echinodorus tenellus			A wide ranging plant from the North and South Americas. Grows to 3 inches in height. A good foreground plant, also used for breeding.
gravel	Normal	6.5-7.2		3-18dH	60-80 F
Red Ammannia Ammannis senegalensis			Origin is Africa ranging in color from a deep red to reddish-purple or a wine color.
gravel	Strong	6.6-7.4		Wide Range	68-79 F
Red Hygrophila Alternanthera rosaefolia			Comes in colors ranging from a deep red to reddish-purple or a wine color. A somewhat difficult plant to grow, requiring strong light. Leaves are up to three inches in length. Plant in bunches of four to seven for best
gravel	Strong	6.8-7.6		Soft	64-68 F
Red Ludwigia Ludwigia mullertii			A great middle or background plant with its greenish to red leaves it make a good contrasting plant. Grows to 15 inches.
gravel	bright	6.5-7.2		Wide Range	57-79 F
Ruffled Amazon Swordplant Echinodorus major			A swordplant reaching 18 inches. Will make a very good center piece or plant in groups of three.
gravel rich in nutrients	bright	6.5-7.2		Soft	68-77 F
Vallisneria Vallisneria spiralis			A popular and very hardy plant from Southern Europe with a wide temperature range. Very tolerant of light and water conditions making it a good first plant.
gravel	Bright	6.2-8.2		Wide Range	60-86 F
Water Pennywort Hydrocotyle leucocephala			Origin is Brazil, growing 20 inches. Leaves are round to kidney shaped having very fine roots. Grows very rapidly. If it gets too tall, just cut the top half and plant the topping.
gravel	Bright	6.4-7.6		Soft	68-82 F
Water Stargrass Heteranthera zosterifolis			A South American plant having bright green leaves. Grows to 6 inches. Does best in groups of 5.7
gravel	Bright	6.4-7.6		Soft	64-80 F
Wavy Edged Swordplant Aponogeton boivinianus			A tuber plant from Northern Madagascar growing up to 18 inches long.
gravel with nutrients	normal	7.3-7.7		Hard	64-77 F