Top Freshwater Aquarium Plants: Tops Plants To Put In An Aquarium

By Mary H. Dyer | August 22, 2020
Image by Foto_by_M
by Mary H. Dyer
August 22, 2020

Aquarium supply stores offer a huge variety of beautiful aquatic plants and many are easy to grow, even for newbies. Are you wondering what plants to put in an aquarium? If you’re a beginner, or even if you aren’t, here are great aquatic plants for fish tanks.

Top Freshwater Aquarium Plants

What are the best lush plants for aquariums? Here’s a rundown of the top beginner aquarium plants for aquascapes:

  • Java moss – Java moss is one of the easiest plants for aquariums, but it’s best to attach it to driftwood or another stable object to keep it from floating. This fast-growing plant needs low to moderate light.
  • Java fern – Java fern, with long, green leaves, is easy to grow. Just attach it to a rock or other object and be careful not to bury the rhizome. 
  • Aquarium lilies – Dwarf aquarium lily is an easy, fast-growing plant that needs low to moderate light. Be sure to place the bulb with half above the substrate. 
  • African water fernAfrican water fern is a slow-growing plant, but once established, it’s easy to grow and looks lovely anchored to a rock. It needs high light levels.
  • Bunch plant – Water wisteria, also known as bunch plant, is an easy, fast-growing plant that needs low to moderate light. The interesting, lacy leaves add texture and interest to the aquarium. Water wisteria is easy to propagate. Just take a cutting of the stem and bury it in the substrate.
  • HornwortHornwort is an attractive plant that will float on the surface. Allow plenty of space, as it is a large plant that can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm.). Hornwort is easy to propagate; just snip a piece of stem and let it float or poke an end into the substrate.
  • Amazon sword – Amazon sword is a large plant with lance shaped leaves and a moderate growth rate. This easy-to-grow plant can reach lengths of 20 inches (50 cm.) and isn’t a good choice for a small tank.
  • Anubia – Anubias is one of the best beginner aquarium plants. Put it in a shady corner of the tank, then anchor it to a rock or driftwood. Be sure the rhizome remains above the substrate, or the plant will rot.
This article was last updated on
Read more about Top of the Crop
Did you find this helpful? Share it with your friends!

Browse Dozens of Our FREE Gardening Guides Today

Whether your dream garden is a houseplant sanctuary, a bountiful vegetable garden, a pollinator paradise, a bright and bold flower bed, or a backyard oasis – Gardening Know How has the perfect gardening guide just for you.

Click the button below to access more than 3 dozen of our completely free and completely comprehensive guides to growing your dream garden.

Join Us - Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips!