Knowledge Base

Aquatic Plant Care Guides

Expert care guides for 162 aquatic plant species — covering lighting, growth rate, placement, and everything you need to grow a thriving planted aquarium.

162 guides available

Dwarf Acorus

acorus gramineus pusillus

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Extremely slow under water
PlacementFore to mid-ground
Acoraceae

Variegated Acorus

acorus gramineus variegatus aquarium

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Extremely slow under water
PlacementMid-ground (or at edge of pond)
Acoraceae

Marimo Balls, Moss Balls

cladophora aegagropila

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementForeground or accents
Cladophoracea

Cherry Hedge

alternanthera ficoidea var cherry stem

LightingHigh
Growth Rate
fast
PlacementMid-ground
Amaranthaceae

Green Hedge

alternanther ficoidea green

LightingHigh
Growth Rate
fast
PlacementMid-ground
Amaranthaceae

Telanthera

alternanthera reineckii

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid-ground to background
Amaranthaceae

Family Name: Lythraceae

nesaea crassicaulis

LightingIntense
Growth Rate
Moderately fast under good conditions
PlacementMid-background with trimming

Ammannia

ammannia gracilis

LightingMedium - high
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast, depending on conditions
PlacementBackground
Lythraceae

Family Name: Lythraceae

ammannia pedicellata

LightingIntense
Growth Rate
Moderately fast under good conditions
PlacementMid-background with trimming

Golden Nesaea

ammannia pedicellata 1

LightingIntense
Growth Rate
Moderately fast under good conditions
PlacementMid-background with trimming
Lythraceae

Family Name: Lythraceae

ammania red

LightingHigh
Growth Rate
Fast, in good conditions
PlacementMid - background

Ammannia

ammania senegalensis

LightingMedium - high
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast, depending on conditions
PlacementBackground
Lythraceae

Anubias congensis

anubias afzelii

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid to Background, depending on tank size
Araceae

Anubias lanceolata

anubias barteri angustifolia

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid to Background, depending on tank size
Araceae

Anubias barteri

anubias barteri

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMidground
Araceae

Anubias barteri

anubias barteri var broad leaf

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMidground
Araceae

Anubias barteri var. 'coffeefolia'

anubias barteri var cofeefolia

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMidground
Araceae

Anubias ' nana'

anubias barteri var nana

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementFore to Midground
Araceae

Anubias nana narrow leaf

anubias barteri var nana narrow leaf

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementFore to Midground
Araceae

Anubias nana petite

anubias barteri var nana petite

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementForeground
Araceae

Anubias Frazeri

anubias frazeri

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow, but faster than most Anubias
PlacementMid to Background
Araceae

Anubias gigantea

anubias gigantea

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementBackground
Araceae

Anubias heterophylla

anubias heterophylla

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid to Background
Araceae

Anubias Minima

anubias minima

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMidground
Araceae

Anubias Nancon

anubias nancon

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow - medium
PlacementMid to Background
Araceae

Anubias Nangi

anubias nangi

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMidground
Araceae

Aponogeton boivinianus

aponogeton boivinianus

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid - Background, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Aponogeton capuronii

aponogeton capuronii

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid - Background, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Aponogeton crispus

aponogeton crispus

LightingLow - Medium
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid - Background
Aponogetonaceae

Aponogeton longiplumosus

aponogeton longiplumosus

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementBackground, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Madagascar Lace Plant

aponogeton madagascariensis

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid - Background, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Aponogeton natans

aponogeton natans

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Medium in good conditions
PlacementMid - Background, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Aponogeton boivinianus

aponogeton rigidifolius

LightingMedium - high
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementBackground, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Aponogeton ulvaceous

aponogeton ulvaceous

LightingMedium
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid - Background, focal point plant
Aponogetonaceae

Bacopa australis

bacopa australis

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementCan be trimmed and shaped to work in many places in the tank.
Scrophulariaceae

Bacopa australis

bacopa caroliniana

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid-background
Scrophulariaceae

Moneywort

bacopa monnieri

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid-background
Scrophulariaceae

Bacopa myriophylloides

bacopa myriophylloides

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid-background
Scrophulariaceae

B arclaya longifolia 'red form'

barclaya longifolia red form

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid-background
Nymphaceae

Blyxa aubertii

blyxa aubertii

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Fast in good conditons
PlacementMid-background
Hydrocharitaceae

Blyxa japonica

blyxa japnica

LightingMedium to high
Growth Rate
Fast in good conditons
PlacementFore to midground
Hydrocharitaceae

Bolbitis heudelotii

bolbitis heudelotii

LightingLow to high
Growth Rate
slow
PlacementMid-background
Lomariopsidaceae

Bucephalandra 'Green Wavy'

bucephalandra green wavy

LightingLow
Growth Rate
slow
PlacementForeground or atached to hardscape
Araceae

Cabomba caroliniana

cabomba caroliniana

LightingMed-High
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid- background
Cabombaceae

Purple Cabomba

cabomba caroliniana pulcherrima

LightingMed-High
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid- background
Cabombaceae

Cabomba furcata

cabomba furcata

LightingMed-High
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid- background
Cabombaceae

Crinum natan

crinum natans

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementCenterpiece
Amaryllidacea

Cryptocoryne albida

cryptocoryne albida

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-ground
Aracea

Cryptocoryne retrospiralis

cryptocoryne retrospiralis

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementBackground - looks especailly nice in the outflow of the filter
Aracea

Cryptocoryne undulata

cryptocoryne undulata

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-ground
Aracea

Bronze wendtii

cryptocoryne wendtii tropica

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-ground
Aracea

Cyperus helferi

cyperus helferi

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid-background
Cyperaceae

Green Sandy Dracaena

dracaena borinquensis

LightingModerate to high
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-ground
Rusaceae

Pineapple Plant

dracaena compacta

LightingModerate - High
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-ground
Rusacea

Green and White Sandy Dracaena

dracaena borinquensis 1

LightingModerate to high
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-ground
Rusaceae

Dwarf Amazon sword plant

e grisebachii bleherae compacta

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementFore - Mid ground
Alismataceae

Family Name: Alismataceae

echinodorus kleiner bar

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementBackground

Ruffled sword

echinodorus martii

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementBackground
Alismataceae

Oriental sword

echinodorus oriental

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid-background
Alismataceae

Melon sword

echinodorus osiris

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid-background
Alismataceae

Giant hairgrass

eleocharis montevidensis

LightingLow-moderate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementBackground
Cyperaceae

Hair Grass

eleocharis acicularis

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementForeground
Cyperaceae

Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'

echinodorus altlandsberg

LightingLow - High
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid-ground (or back of a smaller tank)
Alismataceae

Pygmy chain sword

helanthium tenellum

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementForeground
Alismataceae

Purple Waffle

hemigraphis exotica

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMidground
Acanthaceae

Brazilian pennywort

hydrocotyle leucocephala

LightingLow - medium
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementCan be used in many places if kept trimmed. Also works well floating
Apiaceae

Giant Hygro, Temple plant

hygrophila corymbosa

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground
Acanthaceae

Water wisteria

hygrophila difformis

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground unless regularly trimmed
Acanthaceae

Octopus plant

isoetes lacustris

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid ground accent
Isoetaceae

Giant micro sword

lilaeopsis caroliniensis

LightingModerate to High
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementMid-ground
Apiaceae

Narrow leafed micro sword

lilaeopsis mauritiana

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Medium
PlacementForeground
Apiaceae

Ambulia

limnophila indica

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground or kept trimmed
Scrophulariaceae

Family Name: Onagraceae

ludwigia inclinata var verticillata cuba

LightingHigh
Growth Rate
Fast in good conditions
PlacementBackground

Family Name: Onagraceae

ludwigia ovalis

LightingModerate to High
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMidground with trimming to keep it from getting to tall is best

Creeping jenny, moneywort, others

lobelia cardinalis small form

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid-ground with regular trimming
Primulaceae

Dwarf four leaf clover

lysimachia nummularia aurea

LightingLow-moderate
Growth Rate
Slow-moderate
PlacementForeground
Marsileceae

Narrow Leaf Java Fern

microsorum pteropus narrow leaf

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-background
Polypodiaceae

Trident Java Fern

microsorum pteropus trident

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-background
Polypodiaceae

Windelov Java Fern

microsorum pteropus windelov

LightingLow
Growth Rate
Slow
PlacementMid-background
Polypodiaceae

Green tiger lotus

nymphaea lotus green

LightingLow-high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementSpecimen plant
Nymphaeaceae

Mondo grass

ophiopogon japonica kyoto dwarf

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementFore-midground
Liliaceae

Family Name: Lamiaceae

pogostemon erectus

LightingModerate-high
Growth Rate
Very fast in good conditions
PlacementBackground except in the very largest tanks

Family Name: Lamiaceae

pogostemon helferi

LightingModerate to high
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementForeground

Family Name: Lamiaceae

pogostemon stellata

LightingModerate to intense
Growth Rate
Fast in optimal conditions
PlacementBackground, or carefully trimmed, in the mid-ground

Family Name: Lamiaceae

pogostemon stellatus narrow leaf

LightingModerate to intense
Growth Rate
Fast in optimal conditions
PlacementBackground, or carefully trimmed, in the mid-ground

Family Name: Ricciaceae

riccia fluitans

LightingLow-high
Growth Rate
Very fast
PlacementCan be used in many places, but needs something to anchor it.

Family Name: Lythraceae

rotala macrandra narrow leaf

LightingModerate to intense
Growth Rate
Fast under good conditions
PlacementBackground, or mid-ground with regular trimming

Family Name: Lythraceae

rotala nanjenshan

LightingModerate to high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMidground

Family Name: Lythraceae

rotala rotundifolia

LightingModerate to high
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementMid to background, needs regular trimming

Family Name: Lythraceae

rotala wallichii

LightingModerate - high
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementMid - Background

Family Name: Acanthaceae

staurogyne repens

LightingModerate - high
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementForeground

Red Arrowhead

syngonium podophyllum var white butterfly

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Moderate
PlacementN/A
Aracea

Contortion Val

vallisneria spiralis

Lighting
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground
Hydrocharitaceae

Corkscrew Val

vallisneria americana var americana

LightingModerate
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground
Hydrocharitaceae

Family Name: Hydrocharitaceae

vallisneria nana

LightingModerate - intense
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground

Italian Val

vallisneria spiralis 1

LightingModerate - intense
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground
Hydrocharitaceae

Leopard Val

vallisneria spiralis leopard

Lighting
Growth Rate
Fast
PlacementBackground
Hydrocharitaceae

Variegated Sweetflag

acorus calamus variegatus

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

0

acorus gramineus variegatus 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Giant leather fern

acrostichum danaefolium

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Large Leaf Sensitive Plant

aeschynomene fluitans

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Variegated taro

alocasia amazonica hilo beauty

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Water hawthorne

aponogeton distachyos

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Variegated giant reed

arundo donax peppermint stick

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Mexican butterfly weed

asclepias curassavica

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Azolla, Mosquito fern

azolla caroliniana

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Variegated rush

baumea rubignosa variegata

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Flowering Rush

butomus umbellatus

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Marsh marigold

caltha palustris

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Canna Ra

canna glauca taney

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Canna Orange King Humbert

canna glauca ra

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Canna Orange Punch

canna king humbert

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Canna Peach Delight

canna orange punch

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Canna Pink Sunburst

canna peach delight

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Canna Striped Beauty

canna pink sunburst

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Mexican Papyrus

cyperus giganteus

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Giant Papyrus

cyperus papyrus

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Spike rush

eleocharis montevidensis 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Red Night Water Hibiscus

hibiscus acetosella

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

White Large Water Hibiscus

hibiscus moscheutos

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Water poppy

hydrocleys nymphoides

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Variegated Spider Lily

hymenocallis caribaea variegata

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Red Iris

iris kaempferi 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Japanese variegated Iris

iris kaempferi

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Black Gamecock Iris

iris hybrid

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Colorific Iris

iris hybrid 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Dixie Deb Iris

copy of iris x louisiana dixie deb

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

King Creole Iris

iris x louisiana dixie deb

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Professor Claude Iris

iris x louisiana king creole

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Sea Wisp Iris

iris x louisiana professor claude

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Yellow Iris

iris fulva

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Common rush

juncus effusus

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Corkscrew Blue Medusa Rush

juncus inflexus afro

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Blue rush

juncus glauca

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

lilaeopsis carolinensis

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Four leaf clover

marsilea quadrifolia

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Large Leaf Aquatic Mint

mentha aquatic

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Lavender Monkey Flower

mimulus ringens

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

nelumbo decorated lantern

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

nelumbo little chris

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

nelumbo lutea

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Sensitive plant

neptunia aquatica

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Orange snowflake

nymphoides hydrocharioides 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

White Large Snowflake

nymphoides indica

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Strawberries and Cream Ribbon Grass

phalaris arundinacea strawberries and cream

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Golden reed

phragmites australis candy stripe

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Obedient Plant

physostegia leptophylla

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Water lettuce

pistia stratiotes

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Variegated water lettuce

pistia stratiotes variegated

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Pickerel Weed

pontederia cordata

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

White Pickerel Weed

pontederia cordata 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Blue Bells 'Compacta'

ruellia brittoniana katie

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Dwarf pink Mexican Petunia

ruellia brittoniana pink katie

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

White Rush

schoenoplectus lacustris subs tabernae montani albescens

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Zebra Rush

copy of schoenoplectus lacustris subs tabernae montani zebrinus

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Narrow leaf cattail

typha laxmannii

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Zebratail cattail

typha latifolia variegata 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Cattail

typha latifolia

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Graceful cattail

typha minima

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Dwarf cattail

typha latifolia 1

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Variegated cattail

typha latifolia variegata

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement

Zephyr lily

zephyranthes candida

Lighting
Growth Rate
Placement