Top 20 Easy-to-Care Aquarium Plants
Adding live plants to your aquarium doesn’t just enhance its beauty—it also supports a healthy aquatic environment. Live plants help oxygenate the water, absorb excess nutrients, and provide natural shelter for fish and invertebrates. The best part? Many aquarium plants are surprisingly easy to care for, even for beginners.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your aquatic garden, here are the top 20 easy-to-care aquarium plants that thrive in a wide range of conditions and require minimal maintenance.
Foreground / Carpet Plants
These smaller plants are perfect for the front of your tank and for creating lush, green carpets.
1. Java Moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri)
A versatile and hardy moss that grows on rocks, driftwood, or substrate. Ideal for breeding tanks and low-light setups.
2. Dwarf Sagittaria (Sagittaria subulata)
Forms a grassy carpet and spreads quickly. It’s low-maintenance and adapts well to various water conditions.
3. Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula)
This plant gives a "lawn" effect and does best with good lighting and clean water. Works in both CO₂-injected and low-tech tanks.
4. Cryptocoryne parva
One of the smallest Crypts, great for nano tanks or carpeted foregrounds. Grows slowly but steadily under low to medium light.
Midground Plants
These plants offer texture and volume to the middle of your aquarium, helping bridge foreground and background areas.
5. Anubias nana
A classic beginner plant. Attach it to rocks or driftwood—never bury the rhizome. It tolerates low light and doesn’t need CO₂.
6. Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
Another low-maintenance staple. With unique leaf shapes, it grows well attached to hardscape and is difficult to kill.
7. Cryptocoryne wendtii
Known for its broad, wavy leaves and range of colors (green, bronze, red). Very adaptable and beginner-friendly.
8. Bucephalandra spp.
An increasingly popular genus with a variety of leaf shapes and colors. Grows slowly and does best on rocks or wood.
9. Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
Elegant and fern-like, it grows best when anchored to décor and provided with gentle water flow.
10. Hydrocotyle tripartita (Japan)
With bright, clover-shaped leaves, this plant adds a unique look to any tank. Forms bushy growth and can be trimmed easily.
Background Plants
Tall plants perfect for the back of the tank to create depth and cover.
11. Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus)
Large, bold leaves make this a showstopper. Needs root tabs for nutrition but is otherwise low effort.
12. Vallisneria spiralis
Tall and ribbon-like leaves. A fast grower that spreads through runners and creates a “jungle” look.
13. Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)
Lacy, bright green leaves and rapid growth make this plant great for beginners and tanks prone to algae.
14. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Can be planted or left floating. It grows rapidly and helps absorb excess nutrients, keeping water cleaner.
15. Ludwigia repens
A colorful option with red to bronze leaves. It adds contrast and thrives in moderate light.
16. Bacopa caroliniana
Round, green leaves with a clean look. Slow-growing and great for tanks without CO₂.
17. Rotala rotundifolia
Beautiful reddish-pink stems under strong light. Will still grow in low-tech tanks, just with less color.
18. Pogostemon stellatus ‘Octopus’
Long, wispy green leaves with fast growth. Great for filling vertical space quickly.
Floating Plant
19. Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Tiny, fast-growing, and great for reducing excess nutrients and controlling light in the tank. Can be aggressive, so monitor its spread.
20. Salvinia minima
Easy-to-manage floating fern; reduces light and controls algae growth.
Why Choose Easy Aquarium Plants?
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Low maintenance: Most of these plants thrive in basic setups.
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Algae control: Fast growers like Wisteria and Duckweed outcompete algae for nutrients.
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Fish-friendly: Many provide shelter, spawning surfaces, and biofilm for shrimp or fry.
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Improved water quality: Live plants absorb nitrates and help stabilize your tank’s ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need expensive equipment or years of experience to enjoy the benefits of a planted tank. These 20 aquarium plants are ideal for first-timers and seasoned hobbyists alike. At Rockland Aquarium, we offer a hand-picked selection of healthy, easy-to-grow aquatic plants perfect for any tank setup.
Visit our store to explore our live plant collection and get expert advice tailored to your aquarium’s needs!
