Database

Aquatic Plants

Light, CO₂ and growth requirements for freshwater aquarium plants.

Placement

Difficulty

Light

CO₂

Growth Rate

Aquarium Style

Region

62 results

Intermediate💧 freshwater

Alternanthera Reineckii Mini

Alternanthera reineckii Mini

A compact red plant perfect for foreground/midground. Needs high light to maintain its red coloration.

Intermediate

Alternanthera reineckii

Care profile for Alternanthera reineckii: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Amazon Sword

Echinodorus grisebachii

Care profile for Amazon Sword: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Ambulia

Limnophila sessiliflora

Care profile for Ambulia: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Anacharis

Egeria densa

Care profile for Anacharis: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Anubias barteri

Care profile for Anubias barteri: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Anubias nana Petite

Anubias barteri var. nana

Care profile for Anubias nana Petite: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Bacopa caroliniana

A hardy, straightforward stem plant with thick, oval leaves on upright stems. One of the easiest background plants, tolerating a wide range of conditions and requiring minimal maintenance.

Intermediate

Blyxa japonica

Care profile for Blyxa japonica: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Bolbitis Heudelotii

Bolbitis heudelotii

A dark green African fern ideal for low-tech planted tanks.

Intermediate

Bucephalandra

Bucephalandra spp.

Care profile for Bucephalandra: low light, low CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Cabomba caroliniana

Care profile for Cabomba caroliniana: medium light, medium CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Christmas Moss

Vesicularia montagnei

A popular aquarium moss with branching fronds that resemble a Christmas tree shape. Attaches easily to hardscape and creates dense, attractive green coverage.

Beginner

Cryptocoryne Parva

Cryptocoryne parva

The smallest Cryptocoryne species, ideal for foreground carpeting.

Intermediate

Cryptocoryne balansae

Care profile for Cryptocoryne balansae: medium light, low CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Cryptocoryne beckettii

Care profile for Cryptocoryne beckettii: low-medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Care profile for Cryptocoryne wendtii: low-medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Duckweed

Lemna minor

The smallest flowering plant — a tiny floating fern that doubles its coverage in days. Excellent nutrient absorber but extremely difficult to remove once established. Use with caution.

Advanced

Dwarf Baby Tears

Hemianthus callitrichoides

Care profile for Dwarf Baby Tears: high light, high CO₂, advanced difficulty.

Intermediate

Dwarf Hairgrass

Eleocharis parvula

Care profile for Dwarf Hairgrass: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Dwarf Lettuce

Pistia stratiotes

A floating rosette plant resembling small lettuce heads. Provides shade, absorbs excess nutrients, and offers cover for fry. Roots provide habitat for microorganisms.

Beginner

Dwarf Sagittaria

Sagittaria subulata

Care profile for Dwarf Sagittaria: low-medium light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Flame Moss

Taxiphyllum sp.

A unique aquarium moss with upward-growing fronds that resemble flames. Creates a distinctive vertical texture different from traditional trailing mosses.

Beginner

Frogbit

Limnobium laevigatum

A popular floating plant with round, lily-pad-like leaves and long, trailing roots. Excellent for nutrient吸收 and providing cover for fish fry and shy species.

Intermediate

Glossostigma

Glossostigma elatinoides

One of the smallest aquarium plants, forming a dense carpet of tiny green leaves. Requires high light and CO2 to stay compact; Without it, stems stretch upward.

Beginner

Hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum

Care profile for Hornwort: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Intermediate

Hydrocotyle tripartita

Care profile for Hydrocotyle tripartita: medium light, low CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Java Fern

Microsorum pteropus

Care profile for Java Fern: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Java Fern Narrow Leaf

Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow'

A Java Fern cultivar with slender elongated leaves.

Beginner

Java Fern Windelov

Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'

A Java Fern cultivar with finely branched leaf tips.

Beginner

Java Moss

Taxiphyllum barbieri

The most popular and hardy aquarium moss. Grows on almost any surface in almost any conditions. Versatile for attaching to driftwood, rocks, or creating moss walls.

Beginner

Lilaeopsis

Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

A miniature grass-like plant that forms a dense, low carpet. One of the smallest foreground plants, ideal for nano aquascapes. Tolerates low light but grows denser under high light.

Intermediate💧 freshwater

Ludwigia Red

Ludwigia palustris

A versatile red stem plant. Turns red under high light. Easier than Rotala Macrandra but still needs good lighting.

Intermediate

Ludwigia Super Red

Ludwigia sp. Super Red

A vivid red stem plant that maintains its intense red coloration even under moderate lighting. Hardy and fast-growing, making it accessible for intermediate aquascapers.

Intermediate

Ludwigia arcuata

A delicate stem plant with thin, needle-like leaves that turn deep red under high light. Also known as Needle Leaf Ludwigia, it adds fine texture and vibrant color to aquascapes.

Intermediate

Ludwigia repens

Care profile for Ludwigia repens: medium light, low-medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Marimo Moss Ball

Aegagropila linnaei

A rare, spherical green algae ball that grows extremely slowly. Requires almost no maintenance — just occasional squeezing and turning. A fascinating living decoration.

Beginner

Marsilea hirsuta

Care profile for Marsilea hirsuta: low-medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Intermediate

Monte Carlo

Micranthemum tweediei

Care profile for Monte Carlo: high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Myriophyllum

Myriophyllum aquaticum

A graceful stem plant with feathery, comb-like leaves that create a soft, flowing background effect. Also known as Parrot's Feather, it adds delicate texture to aquascapes.

Beginner

Peacock Moss

Taxiphyllum sp.

A delicate aquarium moss with fine, feathery fronds that create a soft, flowing carpet. Attaches easily to hardscape and tolerates a wide range of conditions.

Intermediate

Pogostemon Helferi

Pogostemon helferi

A unique star-shaped foreground plant also known as Downoi.

Intermediate

Pogostemon stellatus

Care profile for Pogostemon stellatus: high light, high CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Beginner

Pygmy Chain Sword

Echinodorus tenellus

Care profile for Pygmy Chain Sword: medium light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Red Root Floater

Phyllanthus fluitans

A floating plant that develops striking red roots and reddish leaf undersides under high light. Provides shade and natural algae control. Breeding ground for fry.

Intermediate

Red Rotala

Rotala rotundifolia

Red stem plant. Turns red under high light with CO₂.

Advanced

Rice Paddy Herb

Limnophila aromatica

A aromatic stem plant with narrow leaves that develop purple undersides under strong light and iron supplementation. Adds unique color and fragrance to aquascapes.

Advanced

Rotala Macrandra

Rotala macrandra

A stunning red stem plant that turns deep crimson-red under high light and CO₂. One of the most beautiful red aquarium plants. Requires soft, slightly acidic water.

Advanced

Rotala Wallichii

Rotala wallichii

A striking red stem plant requiring high light and CO2.

Intermediate

Rotala indica

Care profile for Rotala indica: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Intermediate

Rotala rotundifolia

Care profile for Rotala rotundifolia: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Intermediate

Rotala sp. h'ra

A stunning stem plant that develops intense orange-red coloration under high light and CO2. Narrow leaves arranged in whorls create a striking background accent in aquascapes.

Beginner

Sagittaria

Sagittaria platyphylla

A hardy rosette plant with broad, arrow-shaped leaves. Sends runners to form a grass-like carpet. Tolerates a wide range of conditions, suitable for beginners.

Beginner

Salvinia

Salvinia cucullata

A small floating fern with distinctive cup-shaped leaves. Fast-growing and excellent for nutrient吸收 in shrimp tanks. Does not reproduce as aggressively as duckweed.

Intermediate💧 freshwater

Scarlet Temple

Alternanthera reineckii Rosanervig

A variety of Alternanthera with vibrant red-pink leaves. Striking accent plant for high-tech setups.

Beginner

Staurogyne repens

Care profile for Staurogyne repens: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Taiwan Moss

Taxiphyllum alternans

A delicate aquarium moss with fine, triangular-shaped fronds that create a lush, textured carpet. Attaches readily to hardscape and is ideal for nano aquascapes.

Intermediate

Thai Onion Plant

Crinum thaianum

An aquatic onion plant with long ribbon-like leaves.

Beginner

Vallisneria spiralis

Care profile for Vallisneria spiralis: medium light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Water Sprite

Ceratopteris thalictroides

A fast-growing, fern-like plant that can be floating or planted. Provides excellent cover for fry and absorbs nutrients rapidly. Very easy to grow.

Beginner

Water Wisteria

Hygrophila difformis

Care profile for Water Wisteria: medium light, low CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Beginner

Weeping Moss

Vesicularia ferriei

A unique aquarium moss with fronds that droop downward, creating a distinctive weeping effect. Perfect for attaching to driftwood or rock overhangs for dramatic visual impact.

Aquatic Plants

Alternanthera Reineckii Mini

Alternanthera reineckii

Amazon Sword

Ambulia

Anacharis

Anubias barteri

Anubias nana Petite

Bacopa caroliniana

Blyxa japonica

Bolbitis Heudelotii

Bucephalandra

Cabomba caroliniana

Christmas Moss

Cryptocoryne Parva

Cryptocoryne balansae

Cryptocoryne beckettii

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Duckweed

Dwarf Baby Tears

Dwarf Hairgrass

Dwarf Lettuce

Dwarf Sagittaria

Flame Moss

Frogbit

Glossostigma

Hornwort

Hydrocotyle tripartita

Java Fern

Java Fern Narrow Leaf

Java Fern Windelov

Java Moss

Lilaeopsis

Ludwigia Red

Ludwigia Super Red

Ludwigia arcuata

Ludwigia repens

Marimo Moss Ball

Marsilea hirsuta

Monte Carlo

Myriophyllum

Peacock Moss

Pogostemon Helferi

Pogostemon stellatus

Pygmy Chain Sword

Red Root Floater

Red Rotala

Rice Paddy Herb

Rotala Macrandra

Rotala Wallichii

Rotala indica

Rotala rotundifolia

Rotala sp. h'ra

Sagittaria

Salvinia

Scarlet Temple

Staurogyne repens

Taiwan Moss

Thai Onion Plant

Vallisneria spiralis

Water Sprite

Water Wisteria

Weeping Moss

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Aquatic Plants

Alternanthera Reineckii Mini

Alternanthera reineckii

Amazon Sword

Ambulia

Anacharis

Anubias barteri

Anubias nana Petite

Bacopa caroliniana

Blyxa japonica

Bolbitis Heudelotii

Bucephalandra

Cabomba caroliniana

Christmas Moss

Cryptocoryne Parva

Cryptocoryne balansae