Beginner aquarium plants
A good first plant is forgiving about light and feeding and hard to kill while you learn. These profiles cover plants rated beginner or easy, with the light and placement each one needs.
185 plants
Amazon frogbit
Limnobium laevigatumMedium lightFloating2 in (5 cm)
Amazon sword
Echinodorus grisebachiiMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ambulia
Limnophila sessilifloraLow lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Anubias afzelii
Anubias afzeliiMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Anubias barteri
Anubias barteriLow lightEpiphyte13.8 in (35 cm)Anubias Broad Leaf
Anubias barteri var. barteri 'Broad Leaf'Low lightEpiphyte11.8 in (30 cm)
Anubias Butterfly
Anubias 'Butterfly'Low lightEpiphyte5.9 in (15 cm)Anubias Chili
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Chili'Low lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)
Anubias coffeefolia
Anubias barteri var. coffeefoliaLow lightEpiphyte9.8 in (25 cm)Anubias Coin Leaf
Anubias barteri 'Coin Leaf'Low lightEpiphyte5.9 in (15 cm)
Anubias congensis
Anubias heterophyllaLow lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Anubias Frazeri
Anubias 'Frazeri'Low lightEpiphyte9.8 in (25 cm)
Anubias gigantea
Anubias giganteaLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Anubias gilletii
Anubias gilletiiLow lightEpiphyte11.8 in (30 cm)Anubias golden nana
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Golden'Low lightMidground3.9 in (10 cm)
Anubias gracilis
Anubias gracilisLow lightEpiphyte15.7 in (40 cm)Anubias hastifolia
Anubias hastifoliaLow lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Anubias lanceolata
Anubias lanceolataLow lightMidground13.8 in (35 cm)Anubias Micro
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Micro'Low lightEpiphyte1.2 in (3 cm)
Anubias minima
Anubias barteri var. glabraLow lightEpiphyte7.9 in (20 cm)
Anubias nana
Anubias barteri var. nanaLow lightEpiphyte4.7 in (12 cm)Anubias Nangi
Anubias 'Nangi'Low lightEpiphyte7.9 in (20 cm)Anubias Pangolino
Anubias 'Pangolino'Low lightEpiphyte0.8 in (2 cm)
Anubias petite
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite'Low lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)Anubias pinto
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Pinto'Medium lightMidground3.9 in (10 cm)Anubias stardust
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Stardust'Medium lightMidground2.8 in (7 cm)
Aponogeton crispus
Aponogeton crispusMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Aponogeton natans
Aponogeton natansMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Aponogeton undulatus
Aponogeton undulatusMedium lightBackground21.7 in (55 cm)
Banana plant
Nymphoides aquaticaMedium lightForeground5.9 in (15 cm)
Brazilian pennywort
Hydrocotyle leucocephalaMedium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)Bucephalandra Apple Leaf
Bucephalandra sp. 'Apple Leaf'Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Bucephalandra Brownie Blue
Bucephalandra sp. 'Brownie Blue'Low lightEpiphyte3.1 in (8 cm)Bucephalandra brownie ghost
Bucephalandra sp. 'Brownie Ghost'Medium lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)
Bucephalandra catherinae
Bucephalandra catherinaeLow lightEpiphyte2.4 in (6 cm)Bucephalandra Deep Purple
Bucephalandra sp. 'Deep Purple'Low lightEpiphyte3.1 in (8 cm)Bucephalandra kedagang
Bucephalandra sp. 'Kedagang'Low lightEpiphyte4.7 in (12 cm)Bucephalandra Mini Coin
Bucephalandra sp. 'Mini Coin'Low lightEpiphyte1.6 in (4 cm)
Bucephalandra motleyana
Bucephalandra motleyanaLow lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Bucephalandra Red
Bucephalandra sp. 'Red'Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Bucephalandra Sintang
Bucephalandra sp. 'Sintang'Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Bucephalandra Theia
Bucephalandra sp. 'Theia'Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Bucephalandra Velvet
Bucephalandra sp. 'Velvet'Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Bucephalandra Wavy Green
Bucephalandra sp. 'Wavy Green'Low lightEpiphyte3.1 in (8 cm)
Butterfly fern
Salvinia auriculataMedium lightFloating1.6 in (4 cm)
Canadian waterweed
Elodea canadensisLow lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Caulerpa
Caulerpa proliferaMedium lightBackground5.9 in (15 cm)
Chaetomorpha
Chaetomorpha linumMedium lightFloating7.9 in (20 cm)
Christmas moss
Vesicularia montagneiLow lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)
Common nardoo
Marsilea drummondiiMedium lightForeground4.7 in (12 cm)
Corkscrew val
Vallisneria natansMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Creeping bacopa
Bacopa australisMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Creeping Charlie
Clinopodium browneiMedium lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)
Creeping jenny
Lysimachia nummulariaMedium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Cryptocoryne albida
Cryptocoryne albidaLow lightMidground7.1 in (18 cm)
Cryptocoryne balansae
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansaeMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Cryptocoryne beckettii
Cryptocoryne beckettiiLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Cryptocoryne cordata
Cryptocoryne cordataLow lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
Cryptocoryne crispatula
Cryptocoryne crispatulaMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)Cryptocoryne lucens
Cryptocoryne lucensLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Cryptocoryne moehlmannii
Cryptocoryne moehlmanniiLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Cryptocoryne petchii
Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii'Medium lightMidground5.9 in (15 cm)
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Cryptocoryne pontederiifoliaLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Cryptocoryne pygmaea
Cryptocoryne pygmaeaLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
Cryptocoryne retrospiralisLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Cryptocoryne spiralis
Cryptocoryne spiralisLow lightBackground13.8 in (35 cm)
Cryptocoryne undulata
Cryptocoryne undulataLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Cryptocoryne usteriana
Cryptocoryne usterianaLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Cryptocoryne walkeri
Cryptocoryne walkeriLow lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Cryptocoryne wendtiiLow lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)Cryptocoryne wendtii brown
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Brown'Low lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Cryptocoryne wendtii green
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green'Low lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Cryptocoryne wendtii red
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Red'Low lightMidground5.9 in (15 cm)
Cryptocoryne wendtii Tropica
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica'Low lightMidground5.9 in (15 cm)
Cryptocoryne willisii
Cryptocoryne × willisiiLow lightForeground5.9 in (15 cm)
Duckweed
Lemna minorLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Dwarf aquarium lily
Nymphaea nouchaliMedium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
Dwarf hairgrass
Eleocharis parvulaMedium lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)
Dwarf sagittaria
Sagittaria subulataLow lightForeground11.8 in (30 cm)
Dwarf vallisneria
Vallisneria nanaMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Dwarf water clover
Marsilea crenataLow lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)
Dwarf water lettuce
Pistia stratiotesMedium lightFloating3.9 in (10 cm)
Fairy moss
Azolla filiculoidesMedium lightFloating0.8 in (2 cm)Flame moss
Taxiphyllum sp. 'Flame'Low lightEpiphyte3.1 in (8 cm)
Floating bladderwort
Utricularia gibbaMedium lightFloating0.8 in (2 cm)
Floating water sprite
Ceratopteris cornutaMedium lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Giant baby tears
Micranthemum umbrosumMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Giant bacopa
Bacopa carolinianaLow lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Giant duckweed
Spirodela polyrhizaLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Giant hairgrass
Eleocharis montevidensisMedium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Giant sagittaria
Sagittaria platyphyllaMedium lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)
Giant vallisneria
Vallisneria giganteaLow lightBackground59.1 in (150 cm)
Grape Caulerpa
Caulerpa racemosaMedium lightBackground4.7 in (12 cm)
Grassy arrowhead
Sagittaria gramineaMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Guppy grass
Najas guadalupensisLow lightFloating35.4 in (90 cm)Hadi Red Pearl sword
Echinodorus 'Hadi Red Pearl'Medium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
Hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersumLow lightFloating39.4 in (100 cm)
Hydrocotyle Japan
Hydrocotyle tripartitaMedium lightForeground2 in (5 cm)
Hygrophila corymbosa
Hygrophila corymbosaLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Hygrophila guianensis
Hygrophila guianensisMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Hygrophila polysperma
Hygrophila polyspermaLow lightBackground17.7 in (45 cm)
Hygrophila Siamensis
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis'Medium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Japanese cress
Cardamine lyrataMedium lightMidground17.7 in (45 cm)
Java fern
Microsorum pteropusLow lightEpiphyte11.8 in (30 cm)Java fern latifolia
Microsorum pteropus 'Latifolia'Low lightEpiphyte11.8 in (30 cm)Java fern narrow leaf
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow'Low lightEpiphyte13.8 in (35 cm)
Java moss
Taxiphyllum barbieriLow lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)
Jungle val
Vallisneria americanaLow lightBackground39.4 in (100 cm)Kleiner Bar sword
Echinodorus 'Kleiner Bär'Medium lightBackground17.7 in (45 cm)
Lagenandra meeboldii
Lagenandra meeboldiiMedium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)Lagenandra nairii
Lagenandra nairiiLow lightMidground5.9 in (15 cm)
Lindernia rotundifolia
Lindernia rotundifoliaLow lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalisMedium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Ludwigia brevipes
Ludwigia brevipesHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Ludwigia palustris
Ludwigia palustrisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ludwigia repens
Ludwigia repensMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ludwigia Rubin
Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'Medium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)Ludwigia super red
Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Marble queen sword
Echinodorus cordifoliusMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Marimo moss ball
Aegagropila linnaeiLow lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)
Marsilea hirsuta
Marsilea hirsutaMedium lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)
Melon sword
Echinodorus osirisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Mexican oak leaf
Shinnersia rivularisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Micrantha lily
Nymphaea micranthaMedium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
Moneywort
Bacopa monnieriMedium lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)Monte Carlo
Micranthemum tweedieiMedium lightForeground2 in (5 cm)
Myriophyllum Guyana
Myriophyllum mattogrossenseMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Nano moss
Amblystegium serpensLow lightEpiphyte1.2 in (3 cm)Narrow leaf chain sword
Helanthium bolivianum 'Angustifolius'Medium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)Narrow leaf water clover
Marsilea angustifoliaMedium lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)
Needle hairgrass
Eleocharis acicularisMedium lightForeground7.9 in (20 cm)
Onion plant
Crinum calamistratumLow lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Onion plant natans
Crinum natansMedium lightBackground39.4 in (100 cm)Oriental sword
Echinodorus 'Oriental'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Ozelot sword
Echinodorus 'Ozelot'Medium lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)Peacock moss
Taxiphyllum sp. 'Peacock'Low lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)
Pearlweed
Hemianthus glomeratusMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Pellia
Monosolenium tenerumLow lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)Petite java fern
Microsorum pteropus 'Petite'Low lightEpiphyte3.1 in (8 cm)Philippine java fern
Microsorum pteropus 'Philippine'Low lightEpiphyte7.9 in (20 cm)
Pogostemon quadrifolius
Pogostemon quadrifoliusMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Pygmy chain sword
Helanthium tenellumMedium lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)
Quadricostatus chain sword
Helanthium bolivianum 'Quadricostatus'Low lightMidground5.9 in (15 cm)Red Devil sword
Echinodorus 'Red Devil'Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Red Gracilaria
Gracilaria parvisporaMedium lightBackground7.9 in (20 cm)
Red Grape Algae
Botryocladia botryoidesMedium lightMidground4.7 in (12 cm)
Red root floater
Phyllanthus fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)Red rubin sword
Echinodorus 'Red Rubin'Medium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)
Red tiger lotus
Nymphaea lotusMedium lightMidground23.6 in (60 cm)
Red water lily
Nymphaea rubraMedium lightMidground23.6 in (60 cm)Reni sword
Echinodorus 'Reni'Low lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)Rose sword
Echinodorus 'Rosé'Low lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala Green
Rotala rotundifolia 'Green'Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala rotundifoliaMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Ruffled sword
Echinodorus majorMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Salvinia natans
Salvinia natansMedium lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Sea grapes
Caulerpa lentilliferaMedium lightBackground3.9 in (10 cm)
Sea Lettuce
Ulva lactucaHigh lightFloating9.8 in (25 cm)
Senegal tea plant
Gymnocoronis spilanthoidesHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Singapore moss
Vesicularia dubyanaLow lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)Spiky moss
Taxiphyllum sp. 'Spiky'Low lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)
Star duckweed
Lemna trisulcaLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Staurogyne repens
Staurogyne repensMedium lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)
Süsswassertang
Lomariopsis cf. lineataLow lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)
Taiwan lily
Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan'Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Taiwan moss
Taxiphyllum alternansLow lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)Thor's Trident java fern
Microsorum pteropus 'Thor's Trident'Low lightEpiphyte7.9 in (20 cm)
Tiger lotus
Nymphaea zenkeriMedium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)Trident java fern
Microsorum pteropus 'Trident'Low lightEpiphyte9.8 in (25 cm)
Umbrella hairgrass
Eleocharis viviparaMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Uruguay sword
Echinodorus uruguayensisMedium lightBackground21.7 in (55 cm)
Vallisneria spiralis
Vallisneria spiralisLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Vesuvius sword
Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipesHigh lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Water onion
Crinum thaianumLow lightBackground39.4 in (100 cm)
Water poppy
Hydrocleys nymphoidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)
Water spangles
Salvinia minimaMedium lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Water sprite
Ceratopteris thalictroidesMedium lightBackground15 in (38 cm)
Water wisteria
Hygrophila difformisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Watermeal
Wolffia globosaMedium lightFloating0 in (0.1 cm)
Waterweed
Egeria densaMedium lightBackground39.4 in (100 cm)
Weeping moss
Vesicularia ferrieiLow lightEpiphyte2 in (5 cm)
Willow hygro
Hygrophila salicifoliaMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Willow moss
Fontinalis antipyreticaLow lightEpiphyte4.7 in (12 cm)Windelov java fern
Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'Low lightEpiphyte7.9 in (20 cm)
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