High-light aquarium plants
High-light plants want strong lighting to hold their color and compact form, and most do their best with CO2 and regular fertilizing behind them. This is high-tech territory: carpets, red stems and other showpieces. Profiles list the light, CO2 and growth to expect.
82 plants
Aflame sword
Echinodorus 'Aflame'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera reineckiiHigh lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ammannia Bonsai
Ammannia sp. 'Bonsai'High lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Ammannia gracilis
Ammannia gracilisHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ammannia senegalensis
Ammannia senegalensisHigh lightMidground17.7 in (45 cm)
Bacopa lanigera
Bacopa lanigeraHigh lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Blyxa aubertii
Blyxa aubertiiHigh lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)
Blyxa japonica
Blyxa japonicaHigh lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Brookweed
Samolus valerandiHigh lightForeground5.9 in (15 cm)
Dragon's Breath
Halymenia durvilleiHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Dwarf baby tears
Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'High lightForeground2 in (5 cm)
Eriocaulon cinereum
Eriocaulon cinereumHigh lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)
Eriocaulon quinquangulare
Eriocaulon quinquangulareHigh lightMidground3.1 in (8 cm)Eriocaulon Sulawesi
Eriocaulon sp. 'Sulawesi'High lightForeground1.2 in (3 cm)Eriocaulon Vietnam
Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam'High lightMidground4.7 in (12 cm)
Floating ludwigia
Ludwigia helminthorrhizaHigh lightFloating2 in (5 cm)
Giant ambulia
Limnophila aquaticaHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Glosso
Glossostigma elatinoidesHigh lightForeground1.6 in (4 cm)
Green cabomba
Cabomba carolinianaHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Horemanii sword
Echinodorus horemaniiHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Hydrocotyle mini
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioidesHigh lightForeground2 in (5 cm)Hygrophila Araguaia
Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'High lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Hygrophila balsamica
Hygrophila balsamicaHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Limnophila aromatica
Limnophila aromaticaHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Limnophila hippuridoides
Limnophila hippuridoidesHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ludwigia arcuata
Ludwigia arcuataHigh lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ludwigia brevipes
Ludwigia brevipesHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)Ludwigia Cuba
Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Cuba'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Ludwigia glandulosa
Ludwigia glandulosaHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Ludwigia Pantanal
Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Pantanal'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Ludwigia senegalensis
Ludwigia senegalensisHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
Ludwigia sphaerocarpaHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)Ludwigia super red
Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Maiden's Hair Algae
Chlorodesmis fastigiataHigh lightEpiphyte3.1 in (8 cm)
Mermaid weed
Proserpinaca palustrisHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Mosaic plant
Ludwigia sedioidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)Myriophyllum Roraima
Myriophyllum sp. 'Roraima'High lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Needle leaf bacopa
Bacopa myriophylloidesHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Nesaea crassicaulis
Ammannia crassicaulisHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Nesaea pedicellata Golden
Ammannia pedicellataHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Oriental sword
Echinodorus 'Oriental'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)Persicaria kawagoeanum
Persicaria sp. 'Kawagoeanum'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Persicaria Sao Paulo
Persicaria sp. 'Sao Paulo'High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Pogostemon Dassen
Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen'High lightBackground17.7 in (45 cm)
Pogostemon erectus
Pogostemon deccanensisHigh lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
Pogostemon helferi
Pogostemon helferiHigh lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)
Pogostemon stellatus
Pogostemon stellatusHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Purple bacopa
Bacopa salzmanniiHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Ranunculus
Ranunculus inundatusHigh lightForeground5.9 in (15 cm)
Red cabomba
Cabomba furcataHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Red mangrove
Rhizophora mangleHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)Red myriophyllum
Myriophyllum tuberculatumHigh lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Red root floater
Phyllanthus fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Riccia fluitans
Riccia fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)Rotala Blood Red
Rotala rotundifolia 'Blood Red'High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)Rotala Colorata
Rotala rotundifolia 'Colorata'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala H'ra
Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra'High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Rotala indica
Rotala indicaHigh lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Rotala macrandra
Rotala macrandraHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Rotala macrandra Bangladesh
Rotala macrandra 'Bangladesh'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala macrandra Green
Rotala macrandra 'Green'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala macrandra Mini Butterfly
Rotala macrandra 'Mini'High lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)Rotala Nanjenshan
Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan'High lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala Orange Juice
Rotala rotundifolia 'Orange Juice'High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Rotala pusilla
Rotala mexicanaHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Rotala ramosior
Rotala ramosiorHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Rotala wallichii
Rotala wallichiiHigh lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Sea Lettuce
Ulva lactucaHigh lightFloating9.8 in (25 cm)
Senegal tea plant
Gymnocoronis spilanthoidesHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Star grass
Heteranthera zosterifoliaHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Staurogyne Porto Velho
Staurogyne sp. 'Porto Velho'High lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)
Syngonanthus Belem
Syngonanthus macrocaulonHigh lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Syngonanthus Manaus
Syngonanthus sp. 'Manaus'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Tonina fluviatilis
Tonina fluviatilisHigh lightBackground13.8 in (35 cm)
UG
Utricularia graminifoliaHigh lightForeground1.6 in (4 cm)
Water hedge
Didiplis diandraHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipesHigh lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Water poppy
Hydrocleys nymphoidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)
Water starwort
Callitriche palustrisHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Water violet
Hottonia palustrisHigh lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)
Waterwort
Elatine hydropiperHigh lightForeground2 in (5 cm)
Whorled pennywort
Hydrocotyle verticillataHigh lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)
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