Floating aquarium plants
Floating plants sit at the surface, shading the tank and soaking up nutrients that would otherwise feed algae. Each profile lists how fast a plant grows and the light it prefers.
22 plants
Amazon frogbit
Limnobium laevigatumMedium lightFloating2 in (5 cm)
Butterfly fern
Salvinia auriculataMedium lightFloating1.6 in (4 cm)
Chaetomorpha
Chaetomorpha linumMedium lightFloating7.9 in (20 cm)
Duckweed
Lemna minorLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Dwarf water lettuce
Pistia stratiotesMedium lightFloating3.9 in (10 cm)
Fairy moss
Azolla filiculoidesMedium lightFloating0.8 in (2 cm)
Floating bladderwort
Utricularia gibbaMedium lightFloating0.8 in (2 cm)
Floating ludwigia
Ludwigia helminthorrhizaHigh lightFloating2 in (5 cm)
Floating water sprite
Ceratopteris cornutaMedium lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Giant duckweed
Spirodela polyrhizaLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Guppy grass
Najas guadalupensisLow lightFloating35.4 in (90 cm)
Hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersumLow lightFloating39.4 in (100 cm)
Mosaic plant
Ludwigia sedioidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)
Red root floater
Phyllanthus fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Riccia fluitans
Riccia fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Salvinia natans
Salvinia natansMedium lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Sea Lettuce
Ulva lactucaHigh lightFloating9.8 in (25 cm)
Star duckweed
Lemna trisulcaLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipesHigh lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Water poppy
Hydrocleys nymphoidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)
Water spangles
Salvinia minimaMedium lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Watermeal
Wolffia globosaMedium lightFloating0 in (0.1 cm)
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