Aquarium39 plants · every value sourced
Aquarium plant directory
Height, light, CO₂ and water for 39 freshwater plants, plus which of our 106 fish eat or uproot each one. Add any of them to the tank builder to see them grow in your tank.
- Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini'2–3.9 in · medium–high light
- Amazon frogbitEasy0.4–2 in · low–high light
- Amazon swordEasy7.9–12 in · low–high light
- Anacharis (Brazilian waterweed)Restricted in some states7.9–12 in · low–high light
- Anubias barteriEasy7.9–12 in · low–high light
- Anubias nanaEasy2–5.9 in · low–high light
- Aponogeton crispusEasy12–20 in · medium–high light
- Bacopa carolinianaEasy7.9–12 in · low–high light
- Banana plant2–5.9 in · medium–high light
- Brazilian pennywortEasy5.9–16 in · medium–high light
- Bucephalandra 'Needle Leaf'1.2–2 in · low light
- Cabomba (Carolina fanwort)Restricted in some statesheight n/a · medium–high light
- Christmas moss1.2–2 in · low–high light
- Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii'Easy3.9–5.9 in · low–high light
- Cryptocoryne parva2–3.9 in · medium–high light
- Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green'Easy3.9–12 in · low light
- DuckweedEasyheight n/a · low–high light
- Dwarf hairgrassEasy2.4–7.9 in · low–high light
- Dwarf sagittariaEasy2–12 in · low–high light
- HC Cuba (dwarf baby tears)0.4–2 in · high light
- HornwortEasy2–12 in · low–high light
- Hygrophila polysperma (dwarf hygro)Federal noxious weed7.9–12 in · low–high light
- Java fernEasy5.9–12 in · low–high light
- Java mossEasy1.2–3.9 in · low–high light
- Limnophila sessiliflora (ambulia)Federal noxious weed5.9–12 in · low–high light
- Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'Easy7.9–12 in · medium–high light
- Marimo moss ballEasy1.2–3.9 in · low–high light
- Monte Carlo0.4–2 in · medium–high light
- Pogostemon helferi1.2–3.9 in · medium–high light
- Red root floater0.4–2 in · low–high light
- Rotala rotundifoliaEasy5.9–12 in · low–high light
- Rotala wallichii3.9–12 in · medium–high light · needs CO₂
- Staurogyne repensEasy1.2–3.9 in · low–high light
- Tiger lotus7.9–12 in · medium light
- Vallisneria (spiralis)Easy12–39 in · medium–high light
- Water lettuceRestricted in some statesheight n/a · medium–high light
- Water spangles (Salvinia minima)Restricted in some states0.4–2 in · low–high light
- Water sprite5.9–12 in · medium–high light
- Water wisteriaEasy7.9–12 in · low–high light
Heights are what growers report, often the typical size a couple of months after planting. Light and CO₂ show the full range across sources, because growers often disagree.
Sold as aquarium plants, but not aquatic
These turn up in fish stores but decline underwater. Our sources here are grower and hobby references.
- Mondo grass Ophiopogon japonicusA terrestrial grass-like plant that rots when kept underwater and fouls the water as it decays.
- Purple waffle Hemigraphis alternataDoes not survive long submerged; its leaves break down within weeks.
- Dragon flame / crimson ivy Hemigraphis colorataNot suited to underwater growth and dies back after a short time submerged.
- Mauve stricta Hemigraphis repandaBreaks down quickly when submerged and releases ammonia as it rots.
- Aluminum plant Pilea cadiereiA land houseplant that needs terrestrial conditions and rots if kept underwater.
- Lucky bamboo Dracaena sanderianaFine with roots in water if the leaves stay above the surface; fully submerged, it breaks down.
- Peace lily Spathiphyllum spp.Tolerates wet roots with the plant above water but dies if fully submerged.
- Red Alternanthera (non-aquatic) Alternanthera bettzickianaA non-aquatic species that weakens and eventually rots underwater, unlike the true aquatic Alternanthera species.
- Pothos Epipremnum aureumRoots can sit in tank water, but the leaves must stay above the surface; the plant should not be submerged.
- Selaginella Selaginella spp. (e.g. S. willdenowii)A common non-aquatic plant that cannot be grown submerged over the long term.
Plants with legal limits
Flagged from the USDA Federal Noxious Weed List and state agency lists. Rules change, so check your state before buying, and never release aquarium plants outdoors.
- Anacharis (Brazilian waterweed)Restricted in some statesListed in Washington, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Carolina.
- Cabomba (Carolina fanwort)Restricted in some statesListed in Washington, Wisconsin and Michigan.
- Hygrophila polysperma (dwarf hygro)Federal noxious weedFederal noxious weed. Listed in Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Carolina.
- Limnophila sessiliflora (ambulia)Federal noxious weedFederal noxious weed. Listed in Florida, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
- Water spangles (Salvinia minima)Restricted in some statesListed in Texas.
- Water lettuceRestricted in some statesListed in Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Michigan.