20 Easy Aquarium Plants for Beginners
Hardy, low-fuss plants that bring life, color and cleaner water to your freshwater tank.
Live plants soak up fish waste, compete with algae and give your fish places to hide. Every plant below grows without added CO2 and is safe with fish and shrimp. Most do fine at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).
Our Top 20 Picks
Java Fern
Microsorum pteropus
- LightLow
- GrowthSlow
- PlacementAttach to wood or rock
- CareEasy
Never bury the rhizome; tie or glue it to decor and let the roots grab on.
Anubias
Anubias barteri
- LightLow
- GrowthSlow
- PlacementAttach to wood or rock
- CareEasy
Tough, dark leaves that most plant-eating fish leave alone. Keep the rhizome above the substrate.
Java Moss
Taxiphyllum barbieri
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthMedium
- PlacementWood, rock or mesh
- CareEasy
A shrimp and fry favorite. Trim it often so the inner layers don't trap debris.
Amazon Sword
Echinodorus grisebachii
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthMedium
- PlacementBackground
- CareEasy
A heavy root feeder that grows large, so push root tabs into the substrate near its base.
Vallisneria
Vallisneria spiralis
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthFast
- PlacementBackground
- CareEasy
Spreads by runners into a tall, swaying curtain. Plant with the crown just above the substrate.
Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne wendtii
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthSlow
- PlacementForeground to midground
- CareEasy
May "melt" after moving. Leave the roots in place and new leaves usually return.
Hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersum
- LightLow to high
- GrowthFast
- PlacementFloating or anchored
- CareEasy
Has no true roots and soaks up nutrients from the water, which helps compete with algae.
Water Sprite
Ceratopteris thalictroides
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthFast
- PlacementFloating or planted
- CareEasy
Lacy leaves sprout baby plants you can pull off and replant.
Water Wisteria
Hygrophila difformis
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthFast
- PlacementMidground to background
- CareEasy
Leaf shape changes with light; brighter light gives more finely cut leaves.
Guppy Grass
Najas guadalupensis
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthVery fast
- PlacementFloating or anchored
- CareEasy
Dense tangles give fry and shrimp a safe hideout. Thin it out weekly.
Anacharis
Egeria densa
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthVery fast
- PlacementBackground
- CareEasy
Prefers cooler water, ideally 64 to 77°F (18 to 25°C), so it suits unheated tanks better than warm ones.
Bucephalandra
Bucephalandra spp.
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthVery slow
- PlacementAttach to wood or rock
- CareEasy
Shimmery leaves for low-tech tanks. Like Java Fern, keep the rhizome uncovered.
Dwarf Sagittaria
Sagittaria subulata
- LightLow to medium
- GrowthMedium
- PlacementForeground
- CareEasy
Sends out runners to make a grassy carpet without needing CO2.
Bacopa
Bacopa caroliniana
- LightMedium
- GrowthSlow to medium
- PlacementMidground to background
- CareEasy
Stems grow straight up; snip the tops and replant them to thicken the stand.
Rotala
Rotala rotundifolia
- LightLow to high
- GrowthMedium to fast
- PlacementBackground
- CareEasy
Turns pink or red near the top under bright light.
Ludwigia
Ludwigia repens
- LightMedium
- GrowthMedium
- PlacementMidground to background
- CareEasy
Leaves pick up reddish tones with more light and iron.
Pearl Weed
Micranthemum glomeratum
- LightMedium
- GrowthFast
- PlacementMidground or bush
- CareEasy
Trim it often to keep it bushy, or let it creep along the bottom.
Amazon Frogbit
Limnobium laevigatum
- LightMedium to high
- GrowthFast
- PlacementFloating
- CareEasy
Shades the tank and soaks up nitrate. Keep the leaf tops dry and leave an air gap under the lid.
Red Root Floater
Phyllanthus fluitans
- LightMedium to high
- GrowthMedium to fast
- PlacementFloating
- CareEasy to moderate
Leaves blush red in strong light. Calm surface water helps it thrive.
Salvinia
Salvinia minima
- LightMedium
- GrowthFast
- PlacementFloating
- CareEasy
Scoop out the extra regularly so it doesn't block all the light below.
Quick Comparison
| Plant | Light | Growth | Placement | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Fern | Low | Slow | Attach to wood or rock | Easy |
| Anubias | Low | Slow | Attach to wood or rock | Easy |
| Java Moss | Low to medium | Medium | Wood, rock or mesh | Easy |
| Amazon Sword | Low to medium | Medium | Background | Easy |
| Vallisneria | Low to medium | Fast | Background | Easy |
| Cryptocoryne | Low to medium | Slow | Foreground to midground | Easy |
| Hornwort | Low to high | Fast | Floating or anchored | Easy |
| Water Sprite | Low to medium | Fast | Floating or planted | Easy |
| Water Wisteria | Low to medium | Fast | Midground to background | Easy |
| Guppy Grass | Low to medium | Very fast | Floating or anchored | Easy |
| Anacharis | Low to medium | Very fast | Background | Easy |
| Bucephalandra | Low to medium | Very slow | Attach to wood or rock | Easy |
| Dwarf Sagittaria | Low to medium | Medium | Foreground | Easy |
| Bacopa | Medium | Slow to medium | Midground to background | Easy |
| Rotala | Low to high | Medium to fast | Background | Easy |
| Ludwigia | Medium | Medium | Midground to background | Easy |
| Pearl Weed | Medium | Fast | Midground or bush | Easy |
| Amazon Frogbit | Medium to high | Fast | Floating | Easy |
| Red Root Floater | Medium to high | Medium to fast | Floating | Easy to moderate |
| Salvinia | Medium | Fast | Floating | Easy |
Tips for Growing Easy Plants
Match light to the plant
Most plants here do fine with a basic LED on for 6 to 8 hours a day. Longer periods tend to feed algae.
Know your rhizome plants
Java Fern, Anubias and Bucephalandra rot if buried. Tie or glue them to wood or rock.
Feed the root feeders
Swords and crypts draw food from the substrate, so add root tabs every couple of months.
Add a liquid fertilizer
Stem and floating plants feed from the water. A weekly dose of an all-in-one fertilizer keeps them green.
Trim and replant
Cut stem plants and replant the tops. Thin floaters so at least half the surface stays open.
Never release plants
Many easy plants spread fast outdoors. Bin or compost extras and check local rules on restricted species.
Aquarium Plant FAQ
What is the easiest aquarium plant for beginners?
Java Fern and Anubias are hard to beat. They grow in low light, need no special substrate, and are rarely eaten by fish.
Do aquarium plants need CO2?
None of the plants on this list need added CO2. It can speed up growth, but good light, fertilizer and regular water changes are enough.
Do live plants need special substrate?
Rhizome plants, mosses and floaters need no substrate at all. Root feeders like swords and crypts grow well in plain gravel or sand with root tabs.
How much light do aquarium plants need?
Most easy plants are happy with a standard aquarium LED running 6 to 8 hours a day. A timer keeps the schedule steady and helps prevent algae.
Why are my Cryptocoryne leaves melting?
Crypts often shed leaves after being moved or when water conditions change. Leave the roots in place, and new leaves usually grow back within a few weeks.
Which plants help reduce algae?
Fast growers such as Hornwort, Water Sprite, Guppy Grass and floating plants use up nitrate and phosphate that algae would otherwise feed on.
Are floating plants good for aquariums?
Yes. Frogbit, Salvinia and Red Root Floater absorb waste, shade shy fish and give fry a hiding place. Keep part of the surface open for gas exchange.
Can I plant Java Fern or Anubias in gravel?
Only the roots can go in. Burying the thick stem, called the rhizome, makes it rot, so attach these plants to wood or rock.
Will my fish eat live plants?
Most community fish leave plants alone. Goldfish, silver dollars and many large cichlids nibble, so tough plants like Anubias and Java Fern are the safest picks.
How do I quarantine new aquarium plants?
Rinse them, remove any snails or eggs you can see, and keep them in a separate container for a week or two. Tissue-culture plants arrive pest-free.
Keep Learning
- Freshwater Fish Compatibility Chart: check which fish live well together.
- All Freshwater Fish Species: browse every care guide.
For reference only. Growth varies with lighting, water and fertilizer. Some plants here, including Anacharis, Salvinia and Amazon Frogbit, are restricted in certain US states and other countries, so check local rules and never release aquarium plants into the wild.