Aquascaping is the art of arranging aquatic plants, rocks, and driftwood in a manner that mimics the natural view in the aquarium or just simply soothes people’s eyes.
Evidently, aquatic plants are the central heroes of aquascaping as they are the ones who make a difference. Besides, they play a crucial role in the aquarium’s health. For example, the live plants filter water naturally, they provide shelter and breeding ground for fishes and shrimps as well.
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or have some experience in aquascaping because In this list I’ve included all the plants I love to grow in my tank. So, If you are looking to add some new plants to your tank, this article can help you to decide what plant suits your aquarium best from the top 15 aquascaping plants list.
So, let’s get started with the beautiful and easy aquascaping journey—
But before getting to the list let’s see what things to look for in a plant for aquascaping—
- It should have some sort of aesthetic value
- It should be easy to take care for
- It Doesn’t require any extra added CO2
- It adjusts well with fish & other living beings in the tank
Based on these characteristics here is my all time of top 15 aquatic plants list with their pros and cons—
15 Best Plants To Grow In Aquarium
1. Java Fern
Java fern is a versatile and slow growing aquarium plant that can grow even without a substrate. Moreover, it grows amazingly on driftwoods and rocks making your aquarium look super natural.
Many unique java fern varieties offer different appearances in the tank. Such as, some have finger shaped leaf tips, some others have very curly hairlike leaf tips. This is why It’s one of the best classic aquarium plants, especially for beginners.
It doesn’t require very intensive lighting as well and they make amazing background plants in any aquarium. Though sometimes the Java ferns start turning brown but it’s nothing you can’t solve.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Easy
- Lighting: Low to moderate light
- Temperature: 21-30 °C
- pH: 5-8
2. Amazon Sword
The Amazon sword plant has lush green foliage that gives an added natural look to the aquarium. It can be used both as a background plant or a focus plant in the middle of your aquarium. For this, it’s equally appealing to both beginners and professionals.
One of the main features of this plant is, it can grow up to 20 inches high which provides hiding spots for fish and also covers the back of the tank. Besides, they can be planted directly into the substrate, and their roots will gradually anchor in the soil by themselves.
They are not very high maintenance other than the occasional yellowing of leaves but it can be taken care of pretty easily.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Easy
- Lighting: moderate to high light
- Temperature: 22-28°C°C
- pH: 6.5-7.5
3. Anubias Nana
Anubias plants are mostly kept as midground plants or focus plants in the aquarium. They have a high tolerance against bad water quality which makes them a top pick for the newbie aquarists.
Their leaves are pretty large and thick compared to other aquatic plants and that’s why they work as a natural fish protection spot and they don’t get damaged by snails very easily.
Anubias plants absorb nutrients through the leaves and grow on rhizomes so they don’t need any substrate to grow just like the java ferns. So, you can easily place them on the rocks or driftwoods and they will be growing happily.
Though the Anubias rhizomes sometimes fail to grow leaves, some simple control measures can get you out of this problem in a whip.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Easy
- Lighting: moderate to low light
- Temperature: 22-28°C°C
- pH: 6.0-7.5
4. Dwarf Sagittaria
The name “dwarf” obviously gives away that it only reaches a small height which is around 2-3 inches. This one is ideal for any small tanks both as foreground and midground plants.
Its main feature is, that it spreads at the bottom of the tank making it look like grass carpeting. Since it has dense grass -like leaves, it provides hiding spots for small fish and fries.
In addition, these plants are very hardy and easy to take care of. Moreover, their nutrient requirement is also not that high due to their dwarf structure. Besides, they grow small white flowers that eventually end up floating at the top of the aquarium creating an eye- catching view.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Easy
- Lighting: Low light is best but bright light should be avoided.
- Temperature: 20 – 28 °C
- pH: 6-8
5. Java Moss
Some people might confuse it with the java ferns but they both are very different plants. Even they belong to different genera and families. The java moss are very popular because they are very persistent and hard to kill.
They are so versatile that they can attach themselves to almost any hard surface and cover the surfaces very quickly with green carpet like leaves.
In addition, the java moss is mostly used to stabilize the substrate or create a moss wall. They are very highly used for shrimp breeding and protecting small fishes by their carpeting structure. If you are a beginner then I will recommend this plant to you for aquascaping.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Very Easy
- Lighting: Low to moderate
- Temperature: 15-30°C
- pH: 6-8
6. Ludwigia Peruensis
It’s also known as Ludwigia Glandulosa. If you want to decorate your tank with vibrant popping colors then this one’s for you Because its leaves have striking red orange and sometimes brown hues.
More importantly, if they are provided with an ideal light setting and enough nutrients the red color becomes so intense that it makes the aquarium very appealing.
Make sure to plant them in a nutrient-rich substrate or you can add some root tabs occasionally to enhance the plant’s health and color. With proper care, the Ludwigia Peruensis plant can grow up to 20 inches in height.
Besides, it’s mostly compatible with a variety of aquarium fish and other plants. However, the only thing is, that it needs regular pruning to maintain its desired shape and radius of its lateral branches.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderately easy
- Lighting: Low to moderate
- Temperature: 22-28°C
- pH: 6.0-7.5
7. Hygrophila Pinnatifida
This plant is amazing for aquascaping because of its feather-like leaves and spreading appearance. This plant also has slightly red- brownish hues on its light green leaves on the lower side.
They are ideal for midground plants which you can either plant in substrate or attach to driftwood or rocks. However, when you buy this plant from a store it may not have been grown under water.
So it is pretty normal for them to shed some of their leaves at first when they are kept underwater in the aquarium. But you won’t have to worry about this because they will sprout new leaves as soon as they adjust to the submerged conditions.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderately easy
- Lighting: moderate to high
- Temperature: 22-28°C
- pH: 6- 8
8. Hornwort
The name hornwort comes from the long and slender horn-like structure the plants have. This plant is pretty fast growing. Interestingly, hornworts don’t have a structured root system so they can be grown in the aquarium as a floating plant too.
Since they don’t have any roots they can only live totally under submerged conditions.
They are quite beneficial for the tank because they absorb extra nutrients in the tank which prevents the harmful algal bloom.
Besides, it provides a great hiding spot for the young fish and fries. The great thing is that hornworts can tolerate a broad range of temperatures. In addition, they provide habitats for beneficial microorganisms that keep the tank healthy.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderate
- Lighting: moderate to high
- Temperature: 15-27°C
- pH: 6 to 8.5
9. Pygmy Chain Sword
Pygmy chain swords are an elegant plant choice for aquascaping because of their small size and grass like carpeting leaves. They adjust well with any aquarium hardscapes such as driftwood or rocks. Generally, it just looks like typical lawn grass but only grown in aquariums.
However, they need to be planted in a nutritious substrate and require a good amount of light. This is why pygmy chain swords can be a little challenging for beginners in aquascaping. But still, with a little bit of extra attention and proper care, it can end up being the hero of your aquarium decorations.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderate
- Lighting: Moderate to high lighting conditions
- Temperature: 15-27°C
- pH: 6 to 8.5
10. Dwarf Hairgrass
It’s one of the easiest plants for aquascaping because it’s both low maintenance and versatile. If you place it near dark colored rocks and stones it will make a nice contrast to accentuate the rocks or driftwood in the tank.
With ambient lighting and a good amount of nutrients, this dwarf hairgrass will grow pretty rapidly. But the downside is that you have to trim it quite often as it spreads fast.
In addition, you can use a gravel cleaner to vacuum it every couple of weeks to keep it clean of aquarium debris and fish waste. It’s best to plant them in a fine grained substrate like sand to allow their roots to spread easily.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderately easy
- Lighting: Moderate to high lighting conditions
- Temperature: 20-28°C
- pH: 6 to 7
11. Marimo Moss Ball
It’s quite an interesting and popular plant because it can take the appearance of a velvety green colored orb. It’s neither a moss nor a plant, but a ball of algae. If you are looking to add different types of plant canopy in your tank you can pick this one.
But the main thing you have to do is give the Marimo moss its ball shape by yourself. Every time you change the water, gently take the Marimo moss in your hand and give it a light roll in a round shape. Besides, it will also help the moss to periodically access some light on every side of its surface.
It’s a unique addition to your tank especially with betta fish or goldfish in them. In addition, if you want to give it another shape, you can unroll it and wrap it around any hardwood structure,
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderately easy
- Lighting: Low to moderate lighting conditions
- Temperature: 21-26°C
- pH: 6.5 to 7.5
12. Monte Carlo
It’s also known as Micranthemum. This is also a pretty sought-after plant due to its extremely small leaves. You can keep it as a foreground carpeting plant. Besides, it’s more popularly used to create a green slope with it to mimic natural hill structures.
However, it’s not much of a fast grower when it’s grown underwater but you can use this as an advantage and start growing it before filling the tank with water and fish.
Besides, it has a strong root structure so it won’t be affected by the water current created by the filter. Anyway, if you want it to grow very fast and thick you might need to provide it with added CO2. But as a slow growing plant, Monte Carlo can be grown under intense light and some fertilizer.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Medium difficulty
- Lighting: High-intensity LED lights required
- Temperature: 22-26°C
- pH: 6.5 to 7.5
13. Dwarf Pennywort
This plant is mostly used as a foreground or midground creeping aquatic plant. I prefer it because it slowly advances towards the lights and grows and branches like a vine underwater.
The Japanese variety has very small clover- like leaves that mimic any vine plants found in tropical jungles. Remember that under low light conditions, dwarf pennywort will not produce new leaves or it can even be overpowered by other plants.
So, intense bright light is a must for them. Besides, if you want this plant to thrive in your aquarium be sure to provide it with enough fertilizer. Since it’s a pretty slow growing plant, you can add CO2 in your tank to make them grow fast and produce many leaves.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Medium difficulty
- Lighting: Moderate to Intense LED lights
- Temperature: 22-28°C
- pH: 6.5 to 7.5
14. Cryptocoryne Wendtii
Cryptocoryne Wendtii is a popular and versatile aquarium plant that is well known for its broad range of colors and its relatively undemanding care requirements. Moreover, it doesn’t even require any liquid fertilizer or any added CO2.
Besides, it can thrive under various tank conditions such as low lights and any kind of substrate. Just any substrate with some amount of nutrients will be enough for its roots.
This plant has many varieties such as green, brown, and red. If you wish to enhance its red color in the leaves you can provide some iron supplements in the tank water.
Just like the Amazon swords, these crypts have the same habit of losing leaves when they are first placed in an underwater tank condition. But don’t just consider it dead and throw it away, rather wait for it to start growing its vibrant colored leaves once it gets adjusted to the new water conditions.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderately easy
- Lighting: Moderate to low to Intense LED lights
- Temperature: 22-28°C
- pH: 6.5 to 7.5
15. Bacopa caroliniana
The last one on my list is a stem plant called Bacopa Caroliniana or Water Hyssop which is a very ideal choice of plant for beginners. It has a straight slender stem with small and round leaves. When you are growing it, you have to provide some liquid fertilizers but added CO2 isn’t required at all.
It can even grow under low light conditions but if you want the leaves to turn coppery or red you must provide high intensity light and some doses of iron supplements. Again, just like the Amazon swords, this bacopa plant will also have its leaves dying off while it has been placed in underwater light conditions.
Once it has acclimated itself in the submersed conditions new leaves will grow. If you snip off the top of the step later it will grow back eventually. And you can use this cut step part for its propagation in a new location.
Care Requirements
- Maintenance Difficulty: Moderately easy
- Lighting: Moderate to high light conditions
- Temperature: 20-28°C
- pH: 6 to 8
Conclusion
If you want to aquascape like a pro, position rocks, driftwood, and substrate in a manner that not only looks organized but also mimics natural orientation. For this, you have to pick the right kind of plants which are also easy to take care of.
This is why selecting the plants is the most crucial step for an aquarist. I have experimented with many aquatic live plants and in this article, I’ve tried to include the 15 best plants for aquascaping with all the information that you need to know before making a decision.
You can also pick multiple plants from the list and experiment on your own to figure out which setting looks the best for you. Share this article with your other aquarist friends so you can compare your results while you create a masterpiece scenario in your aquarium.
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