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Live plants are one of the best things you can add to a freshwater aquarium. They compete with algae for nutrients, take up ammonia and nitrate, give fish cover and make the tank look natural. This section collects our aquarium plant profiles, grouped by where they go in the layout: carpet, foreground, midground, background, floating, epiphytes and mosses.
Each profile tells you the light level, whether CO2 is optional or really required, growth speed, ideal temperature and how difficult the plant is to keep healthy. Filter by those fields to find plants that match the equipment you already have.
If you are new to planted tanks, begin with low-tech species such as Anubias, Java fern, Cryptocoryne and Java moss. They grow slowly, tolerate modest lighting and do not need injected CO2. Leave demanding carpets for later, once you have a good light, fertilization routine and patience.
Never release aquarium plants into ponds, rivers or drains: several common species are invasive outside the aquarium.
By group
Handy lists
Aquarium plants
| Species | Light | CO₂ | Temp. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Amazon sword (Echinodorus bleheri) Echinodorus grisebachii 'Bleheri' | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Anubias nana Anubias barteri var. nana | Low | Not needed | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Cryptocoryne wendtii Cryptocoryne wendtii | Low | Not needed | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Dwarf hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula) Eleocharis parvula | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Java fern Microsorum pteropus | Low | Not needed | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Java moss Taxiphyllum barbieri | Low | Not needed | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Monte Carlo Micranthemum tweediei | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Rotala rotundifolia Rotala rotundifolia | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Vallisneria Vallisneria spiralis | Low | Not needed | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 African water fern Bolbitis heudelotii | Low | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Alternanthera reineckii Alternanthera reineckii | High | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Anubias barteri Anubias barteri | Low | Not needed | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
| Aponogeton ulvaceus Aponogeton ulvaceus | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) | Moderate |
 Asian ambulia (Limnophila sessiliflora) Limnophila sessiliflora | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Bacopa caroliniana Bacopa caroliniana | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Brazilian micro sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) Lilaeopsis brasiliensis | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–81 °F (18–27 °C) | Moderate |
 Bucephalandra Bucephalandra sp. | Low | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Christmas moss Vesicularia montagnei | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–81 °F (20–27 °C) | Moderate |
 Cryptocoryne beckettii Cryptocoryne beckettii | Low | Not needed | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
| Cryptocoryne parva Cryptocoryne parva | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Duckweed (Lemna minor) Lemna minor | Medium | Not needed | 50–86 °F (10–30 °C) | Easy |
 Dwarf baby tears Hemianthus callitrichoides | High | Essential | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Difficult |
 Dwarf sagittaria (Sagittaria subulata) Sagittaria subulata | Low | Not needed | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Flame moss Taxiphyllum sp. 'Flame' | Low | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Glossostigma Glossostigma elatinoides | High | Essential | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) | Difficult |
 Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) Ceratophyllum demersum | Low | Not needed | 50–82 °F (10–28 °C) | Easy |
 Hygrophila pinnatifida Hygrophila pinnatifida | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Ludwigia repens Ludwigia repens | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Marimo moss ball Aegagropila linnaei | Low | Not needed | 50–75 °F (10–24 °C) | Easy |
 Marsilea hirsuta Marsilea hirsuta | Low | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Myriophyllum mattogrossense (green milfoil) Myriophyllum mattogrossense | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
| Pogostemon erectus Pogostemon erectus | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Pogostemon helferi Pogostemon helferi | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–86 °F (22–30 °C) | Moderate |
 Pygmy chain sword (Helanthium tenellum) Helanthium tenellum | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Red root floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) Phyllanthus fluitans | Medium | Not needed | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Riccia (Riccia fluitans) Riccia fluitans | Medium | Optional (helps) | 59–82 °F (15–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Ricciocarpus (purple-fringed riccia) Ricciocarpos natans | Medium | Not needed | 59–82 °F (15–28 °C) | Moderate |
| Rotala wallichii Rotala wallichii | High | Essential | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Difficult |
 Salvinia (Salvinia natans) Salvinia natans | Medium | Not needed | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Staurogyne repens Staurogyne repens | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Temple plant (Hygrophila corymbosa) Hygrophila corymbosa | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
 Water sprite Ceratopteris thalictroides | Medium | Not needed | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Water wisteria Hygrophila difformis | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Easy |
No species match those filters.