Aquatic Plant Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular aquatic plants with care guides, traits, and aquascaping tips.
Showing 9 of 127 species
Green Rotala
Rotala rotundifolia 'Green'
A green variety of Rotala rotundifolia. Dense bright green leaves create lush background bushes. Easier than red varieties. Replant trimmings to increase density.
© Vinayaraj / CC BY-SA 4.0Hygrophila
Hygrophila
Representative fast-growing hardy stem plant. Polysperma is most common. Easily propagated by trimming.
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0Lemon bacopa
Bacopa caroliniana
A tough, slow-growing stem plant with thick oval leaves in opposite pairs. Crushed leaves smell of lemon, and under strong light the leaves take on a bronze to reddish-brown tint.
Pearl Grass
Micranthemum umbrosum
A stem plant with small round leaves strung like pearls. Used in mid to background planting. Produces beautiful bubbles in water. CO2 injection encourages lush growth.
Rotala
Rotala spp.
Essential background stem plant genus. Many species including R. rotundifolia and R. indica. Beautiful red coloration and dense bushes achievable through trimming.
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0Stargrass
Heteranthera zosterifolia
A Brazilian stem plant with narrow, bright green lanceolate leaves that branches freely into a bush. Easily trimmed to any height, it works from foreground to background, and shoots reaching the surface bear small blue flowers.
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0Temple plant (Hygrophila corymbosa)
Hygrophila corymbosa
A large stem plant with long, broad, bright green opposite leaves. Fast-growing and bushier after trimming, it bears fragrant purple flowers when grown out of the water. Many forms such as 'Siamensis' exist.
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0Water hyssop
Bacopa monnieri
A tough, bright green stem plant (Japanese name Otomeazena) with small, thick leaves that widen toward the tip, in opposite pairs. A staple that tolerates almost any water and grows without CO2; emersed it bears pale pink to white flowers.
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0Water wisteria
Hygrophila difformis
A stem plant with striking heterophylly: deeply pinnatifid leaves underwater and undivided, toothed leaves above water. Very fast-growing, it soaks up excess nutrients in newly set-up tanks.
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Aquatic Plant FAQ
- How much do aquatic plants cost?
- Common Rotala and Anubias cost 300-1,000 yen, Bucephalandra 1,000-5,000 yen, and rare wild-collected specimens 5,000-20,000+ yen depending on species.
- Can beginners grow aquatic plants?
- Anubias Nana and Java Moss require no CO2 injection and grow in low light, making them ideal for beginners. Start with hardy shade-loving plants.
- What equipment is needed for aquatic plants?
- A tank, LED light, filter, and aqua soil are the basics. For advanced layouts, CO2 injection and high-performance lighting significantly improve growth and coloration.
- What should I check when buying aquatic plants?
- Ensure leaves are green and healthy, not melting or dying, and free of snails or pests. Tissue-cultured cups are pest-free and reliable.
- Why do aquatic plants die?
- Insufficient light, CO2, or nutrients are the main causes. Each species has different requirements, so matching the environment to your specific plants is essential.