Many freshwater aquarium plants are easy to care for and can make a huge difference in overall aesthetics and fish health when added to your tank.
Some freshwater aquarium plants that are easy to care for include java moss, Anubias barteri, moneywort, Amazon sword, dwarf water lettuce, and guppy grass. When choosing live plants for your aquarium, consider growth requirements such as fertilizer, substrate, and lighting.
In this post, I’ll share several of my favorite freshwater aquarium plants that are easy to care for and explain how to incorporate them into your existing habitat. I’ll also cover the benefits of having live plants in your tank and answer some commonly asked questions about aquarium plants.
Why Live Plants Are Important For Your Aquarium
Live plants inside an aquarium are beautiful looking. Yet, they’re also important for replicating a natural habitat and creating a healthy ecosystem inside your aquarium. They provide several benefits to the tank and all the aquatic creatures inside.
What Are The Benefits Of Live Plants In Your Aquarium?
The benefits of live plants in your aquarium include filtration, waste removal, oxygenation, healthier fish, and aesthetic appeal. Live plants regulate water parameters and clean aquariums by removing fish waste. They also mimic natural fish habitats, promoting good overall health and well-being.
Types of Aquarium Plants
Generally, aquarium plant type is determined by the growth rate, size, and floating abilities. Aquarium plants are broken down into four classifications based on where in the aquarium they should be placed:
- Foreground plants
- Midground plants
- Background plants
- Floating plants
Plants Suitable For Foreground to Midground Placement
Here are some suitable freshwater aquarium plants of easy care level to place in the foreground and midground of your tank.
Java Moss ‘Taxiphyllum Barbieri
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low-Moderate
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground
Java moss is one of the easiest to care for and hardest to kill plants. It’s also one of the few compatible with nearly all fish species.
Commonly used in aquascaping, Java moss provides a more natural feel in an aquarium. It’s also great for breeder tanks to provide shelter for eggs and fry. Plus, it’s versatile, easy to propagate, and attaches to several surfaces, including driftwood, rocks, gravel, and other decorations.
Java moss thrives in water temperatures between 69°F -75°F (20.5°C – 23.9°C), tolerating as low as 59°F (15°C) and up to 86°F (30°C). Acceptable pH levels range from 5.0 to 8.0, though between 6.5 and 7.5 is ideal.
Anubias Barteri
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low-Moderate
- Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground
Anubias barteri is a great beginner plant. It does well in tanks of all shapes and sizes and is easily attached to rocks and driftwood. Plus, propagation is as simple as cutting the rhizome into smaller pieces.
This plant can thrive in a range of lighting conditions, growing slowly in lower levels of light and more quickly in higher levels. However, it’s also more susceptible to algae growth in lighting higher than 3 watts per gallon.
Anubias barteri prefers water temperatures of 72°C – 78°F (22.2°C – 25.5) and pH levels between 6.5 and 7.8.
Subwassertang ‘Lomariopis Lineata’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low-Moderate
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground
Subwassertang is another versatile plant that is great for all tank sizes. Although, it requires quarantine before being introduced to an environment, and it can take a while to establish.
These plants can do fine in cold temperatures in nature but grow best in the range of 68°F -75°F (20°C – 24°C) and appreciate a pH between 6.0 and 8.0.
It grows well but slowly and appears a bit dull in low light. Moderate lighting is ideal for faster growth and increased yield, yet high light can cause it to melt.
Anubias Nana Petite
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground
Anubias Nana Petite is a favorite for beginners thanks to its small size and rich color. It makes for an excellent accent plant, suitable for most tank placements. Similar to other Anubias, it’s easily propagated by cutting small sections of the rhizome.
Ideal water parameters include temperatures from 68°F – 82°F (20°C – 27.8°C) and relatively neutral pH levels between 6.5 and 7.5.
Unlike most foreground aquarium plants, Anubias nana petite does well under low to moderate lighting. In fact, as slow-growing plants, high light can lead to algae growth, potentially suffocating potential propagation and new leaves.
Plants Suitable For Midground to Background Placement
Here are some suitable freshwater aquarium plants of easy care level to place in the midground and background of your tank.
Jungle Val ’Valliseneria Americana’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low-Moderate
- Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Tank Placement: Midground Background
Jungle Val is popular for beginner tanks because it’s one of the most tolerant and resilient plants suitable for most tank types. This beautiful plant goes by many names, including eelgrass, tape grass, and water celery.
As a light-loving plant, jungle Val thrives with 8-10 hours of moderate to bright light daily and can die if light levels are too dim. It also grows near the water surface to maximize light, so a 20-gallon tank or larger is recommended.
Jungle Val prefers slightly alkaline water but can tolerate pH between 6.0 and 9.0. It’s tolerant of a range of temperatures, yet between 64°F – 82°F (18°C – 28°C) is ideal.
Moneywort ‘Bacopa Monnieri’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low-Moderate
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Tank Placement: Midground, Background
Moneywort is another excellent beginner plant loved for its hardiness, versatility, vibrant appearance, and minimal care requirements. It has similar water parameter requirements to several tropical fish species, making it easy to incorporate into existing tank habitats.
Also known as water hyssop, Indian pennywort, and herb of grace, moneywort does best in water temperatures of 72°F – 82°F (22.2°C and 77.7°C) and pH levels from 6.0 to 7.5, ideally near neutral.
This popular creeping plant flourishes in moderate lighting, about 2-3 watts per gallon, and can handle as much as 10-12 hours of light daily. It still grows well in low lighting, but growth is thin and stretched instead of compact and bushy. Standard LED lighting is sufficient, as moneywort thrives even in low-tech setups.
Java Fern ‘Microsorum Pteropus’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Tank Placement: Midground, Background, or Floating
Java fern is popular with many aquarists and suited for beginners because it’s sturdy, easy to maintain, and has a unique shape. It’s compatible with many fish, though most tend to keep away from it due to its tough structure.
This plant can be attached to driftwood or rocks in the mid to background, or you can leave it to float in the tank.
Java fern thrives in water temperatures of 68°F – 82°F (20°C – 77.7°C) and pH levels between 6.0 and 7.0. An ideal lighting range is 1.5–2 watts per gallon. It will prefer a subdued fluorescent light but can grow in most lighting.
Amazon Sword ‘Echinodorus Amazonicus’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Moderate
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Tank Placement: Background
Amazon sword is commonly used as a background plant and popular with aquarium hobbyists for its ease of care and sturdiness. It grows fully or partially submerged in water and tolerates a variety of water conditions.
This plant prefers warmer water temperatures between 72°F and 82°F (22°C and 28°C) and requires a neutral pH level between 6.5 to 7.5 In addition, it should be provided potassium and iron supplements.
Amazon sword needs moderately bright lighting, at least 2 watts per gallon. It must be cultivated in loose substrates such as finely-grained gravel to allow easy root penetration.
Rotala Indica ‘Rotala Rotundifolia’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low or Moderate-High
- Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground, Background
Aquarists love Rotala Indica because it’s safe for all aquatic creatures and requires low maintenance. Many also choose it for its color-changing abilities caused by varied lighting and nitrite levels.
Generally, Rotala Indica care guidelines call for moderate to high light for at least 8 hours daily. This lighting creates a bushier plant and turns the leaves from green to reddish pink. However, the plant grows thin when grown under low light conditions, and its natural green leaves become dull yellow-green.
Growth rate also correlates with lighting conditions, with low light resulting in slower growth and high light promoting faster growth.
Rotala Indica thrives in water with warmer temperatures between 72°F – 82°F (22°C – 28°C) and a pH level from 6.0 to 7.5.
Pearlweed ‘Hemianthus micranthemoides’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Moderate-High
- Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground, Background
Pearlweed is a versatile and visually striking aquarium plant that offers aquarists an array of benefits. It has delicate, small, round to oval-shaped leaves, which can create a lush and vibrant green presence in your aquarium.
This lush plant thrives in temperatures between 66°F to 82°F (19°C to 28°C) and prefers a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5.
Pearlweed requires moderate to high lighting for optimal growth in an aquarium. It is important to provide enough light intensity to support proper photosynthesis. A recommended photoperiod of 8-10 hours per day will ensure that Pearlweed gets the light it needs.
Banana Plant ‘Nymphoides Aquatica’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low to High
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Tank Placement: Foreground, Midground
Banana plants are popular for their unique look and easy care requirements. They have beautiful water lily leaves and tubers resembling a bunch of small bananas. When planted and grown in soil, no fertilizer is required.
The ideal water temperature for a Banana plant is between 68°F – 81°F (20°C – 27°C). It can tolerate as low as 50°F (10°C), though its growth is stunted. Keep pH levels between 6.0 and 7.2.
This plant grows well in all lighting conditions. However, its heart-shaped lily leaves float on the water’s surface in moderate to high light but tend to remain submerged in low light. Additionally, it requires slow water movement, so you may need to reduce your filter’s flow rate to house this plant comfortably.
Plants Suitable For Floating Placement
Here are some suitable freshwater aquarium plants of easy care level for floating placement.
Dwarf Water Lettuce ‘Pistia stratiotes’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Tank Placement: Floating
Dwarf water lettuce is an excellent plant for aquariums 10 gallons and larger. This eye-catching perennial is fast-growing and requires minimal intervention to flourish in suitable water conditions.
However, it’s also quick to propagate. It can easily spread to cover your tank’s entire surface if not controlled.
This plant does best in tropical and subtropical environments with water temperatures of 72°F – 86°F (22°C – 30°C) and often doesn’t even grow once temperatures fall below 70°F (21°C). It also likes pH levels between 6.0 and 7.5 and high humidity levels.
While dwarf water lettuce needs moderate light levels regularly, it prefers somewhat shady environments. Excessive and direct light exposure can cause yellowing and scorching. Typically, this plant can reach its full potential with residual lighting.
Red Root Floater ‘Phyllanthus Fluitans’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low to High
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Tank Placement: Floating
The aptly named red root floater is a beautiful, vibrantly colored fern. It flourishes in many habitats and requires minimal care to keep healthy.
Like Rotala rotundifolia, red root floater plants will produce different colored leaves depending on lighting conditions. The leaves remain a vibrant light green in low to moderate lighting and turn a deep blushing red in high lighting. Regardless of brightness, red root floater plants require a minimum of 6-8 hours of light daily.
While red root floater plants tolerate a wide range of water parameters, they thrive in tropical conditions. It prefers nutrient-rich water with neutral pH levels between 6.5 and 7.5 and warmer temperatures from 70°F to 82°F (21.1°C to 27.7°C).
Plants Suitable For Midground, Background & Floating Placement
Here are some suitable freshwater aquarium plants of easy care level for midground, background, or floating placement.
Anacharis ‘Elodea Najas’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Moderate
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Tank Placement: Midground, Background, Floating
Anacharis can live in a wide range of conditions. Also known as Egeria, Elodea, and Waterweed, this versatile and hardy plant is considered foolproof.
While the exact growth rate depends on lighting, water conditions, and fertilizer use, this plant grows relatively quickly and requires occasional trimming and pruning.
As a tropical plant, Anacharis prefers warmer water temperatures between 72 to 78°F (22 to 25°C). Still, it can tolerate as low as 60°F (16.6°C) and as high as 82°F (27.8°C). Aim for neutral pH levels of 6.5-7.5.
Moderate lighting is ideal, around 2 watts per gallon. Anything lower could severely slow growth or even kill the plant. Excess light can cause hair algae growth.
Guppy Grass ‘Najas Guadalupensis’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Low-Moderate
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Tank Placement: Midground, Background, Floating
Guppy grass is a fast-growing stem plant often used in shrimp tanks, as it creates areas for hiding, breading, and hatching. It’s easy to maintain and can be rooted to the substrate or seen floating.
This versatile plant thrives in waters with a temperature between 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C) and a pH level between 6.0 and 7.5. It prefers low to moderate lighting for 8-10 hours daily. In ideal conditions, it can grow as tall as 35 inches (90 cm).
Hornwort ‘Ceratophyllum Demersum’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Moderate-High
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Tank Placement: Midground, Background, Floating
Hornwort is great for large aquariums, as it can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length. It’s also quite hardy and requires low maintenance. The foliage resembles pine needles, which will shed if conditions go outside the plant’s tolerance zone.
This fast-growing plant does fine in a range of water conditions but grows best in water temperatures between 15 and 30° C (59 and 86° F) with pH levels from 6.0 to 7.5. In nature, it can survive winter temperatures as low as 28° F (-2°C) and is usually bothered by extreme heat.
Hornwort requires high lighting to grow, limited to 8 hours daily. Yet, moderate lighting can help to reduce and regulate the growth rate if necessary.
Water Wisteria ‘Hygrophila Difformis’
- Care Level: Easy
- Lighting Required: Moderate-High
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Tank Placement: Midground, Background, Carpet
Water wisteria, a popular aquatic plant, is frequently utilized in aquariums for its versatile features. Known for creating dense foliage, it serves as an excellent shelter for fish and invertebrates.
Thriving in temperatures ranging from 70°F (21°C) to 82°F (28°C), this resilient plant maintains optimal health in a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. Additionally, it benefits from KH levels between 2 and 8 for optimal growth.
It is well-suited to environments with moderate to high lighting, requiring approximately 8-10 hours of illumination each day. Under favorable conditions, water wisteria can reach an impressive height of up to 20 inches (51 cm) and extending about 10 inches (25 cm) wide
What To Consider When Buying Your Aquarium Plant
Adding plants to an aquarium is about more than creating a pleasing aesthetic. Before choosing an aquarium plant, consider the following.
Are They a True Aquatic Plant?
Not all plants can live submerged underwater, as excess water can cause root rot and suffocation, leading to the plant’s death. Always ensure the plants you choose for your aquarium are aquatic plants, also called hydrophytes.
Requirements for Best Growth
Choosing plants on aesthetics alone can result in tank compatibility issues. It’s important to consider requirements such as lighting, carbon dioxide, fertilizer, and substrate ideal for the plant so it can reach its full potential. If your aquarium doesn’t match a plant’s water parameters, you shouldn’t consider it.
Does The Plant Need To Be Quarantined?
Some plants may have difficulty adapting to a new environment. A sudden change can shock them, causing stunted growth, health issues, and often death. In such cases, you may need a separate, smaller tank or container to quarantine the plant for days or even weeks before adding it to your aquarium.
Does The Plant Look Healthy?
Incorporating an unhealthy plant into your aquarium can wreak havoc on its ecosystem. Plants can be infected with fungus, bacteria, or disease, bringing undesirable organisms to the tank. Always get your aquatic plants from a trusted source, and disinfect plants before placement to remove anything potentially harmful to your fish.
Freshwater Aquarium Plant FAQs
Live plants are good for freshwater aquariums. They remove CO2 and add oxygen to the water, assisting in filtration and regulating water conditions. Live plants also mimic the natural habitat of fish and other aquatic creatures, providing shade, privacy, and safety.
Some aquatic plants clean aquariums naturally as part of the ecosystem inside the tank. Many live plants feed on fish waste and help reduce algae growth by using essential nutrients in the tank, such as potassium, nitrates, and iron. However, not all aquatic plants help clean aquariums in these ways.
Many plants help with aquarium water quality by increasing dissolved oxygen and adjusting water pH and hardness. In addition, aquarium plants absorb nitrates, so compounds like ammonia are easily broken down and cleared from the water.
Aquarium plants do oxygenate the water in your aquarium. Fully-submerged plants do better at this than floating plants, as all their oxygen is put directly into the water. Top performing oxygenators include Hornwort, Anarcharis, and Jungle Val.
Not all freshwater aquarium plants need soil. Some species can be planted in sand, gravel, or other substrate. In contrast, others can attach themselves to substrate or decorations in the tank. Often, aquarium plants do not need fertilizer supplements when planted in soil.
All freshwater aquarium plants need light, and each species has specific lighting requirements. Some plants need strong lights or lengthy exposure, while others prefer shady environments.
Wrapping Up
Freshwater aquarium plants are an excellent way to help your aquarium come alive. By choosing beginner-friendly plants, you can add vibrant greenery to your tank while enjoying the benefits of a thriving aquatic ecosystem.
Remember to consider factors like lighting, water parameters, and growth habits when selecting plants that suit your preferences and existing habitat. With proper care and maintenance, these plants will enhance the beauty of your aquarium, provide shelter for your fish, and contribute to better water quality.
