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Aquatic Plant Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia of popular aquatic plants with care guides, traits, and aquascaping tips.

Showing 40 of 127 species(1–24)

Alternanthera Reineckii© No machine-readable author provided. Rchampagne assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain

Alternanthera Reineckii

Alternanthera reineckii

Intermediate

A stem plant coloring deep red to pink. Creates vivid accent color among green aquatic plants.

AlternantheraRed typeStem plant
Alternanthera Reineckii Mini

Alternanthera Reineckii Mini

Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini'

Intermediate

A compact red aquatic plant perfect for foreground to midground accent color.

Aquatic PlantRedCompact

Ammannia gracilis

Ammannia gracilis

Intermediate

A large stem plant with long, narrow opposite leaves that turn a cognac-red in strong light. Reaching 20–50 cm tall and 12–20 cm wide, it makes a bold statement in the mid- or background of tanks of 76 litres or more.

Stem plantRed plantLarge
Anubias hastifolia

Anubias hastifolia

Anubias hastifolia

Intermediate

A large Anubias with hastate to almost three-lobed leaves. It is considered poorly adapted to permanent submersion and does better grown emersed in a spacious paludarium than in an aquarium.

LargePaludariumShade-tolerant

Aponogeton ulvaceus

Aponogeton ulvaceus

Intermediate

A bulb plant from Madagascar that unfurls more than 40 translucent, pale green leaves with strongly waved margins. A single plant spreads about 50 cm wide, so it makes a centrepiece for large tanks. Some forms need a dormant period.

BulbLargeBackground
Blyxa japonica

Blyxa japonica

Blyxa japonica

Intermediate

Beautiful rosette plant native to Japan. Thin leaves spread radially, adding movement to midground layouts. Takes on reddish hue with CO2 — very attractive.

IntermediateRosetteJapan native

Bog moss

Mayaca fluviatilis

Intermediate

A moss-like stem plant with very narrow, bright green leaves set spirally and densely on soft, pale stems. It ranges from the south-eastern United States to South America, and its tips quickly turn pale when iron runs short.

Stem plantFine leavesSoft water
Bolbitis© Daderot / Public domain

Bolbitis

Bolbitis heudelotii

Intermediate

Fern with beautiful deeply lobed dark green leaves. Epiphytic, attached to driftwood. Creates mature, refined aquascape.

FernEpiphyticRefined beauty
Bucephalandra

Bucephalandra

Bucephalandra

Intermediate

Epiphytic plant endemic to Borneo. Unique texture and iridescent leaves popular with collectors. Slow but hardy.

EpiphyticBorneo endemicCollectible
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Ghost'

Bucephalandra 'Brownie Ghost'

Bucephalandra sp. 'Brownie Ghost'

Intermediate

A popular Bucephalandra variety with ghostly translucent leaves. Epiphytic, attached to driftwood or rocks. Very slow-growing but the unique iridescence is prized by collectors.

BucephalandraEpiphyticRare
Cryptocoryne parva

Cryptocoryne parva

Cryptocoryne parva

Intermediate

The smallest Cryptocoryne species. Used as a foreground plant, growing very slowly. Once established it is hardy and easy to maintain. Grows without CO2, but needs more light than other Cryptocoryne species.

CryptocoryneSmallForeground
Didiplis diandra

Didiplis diandra

Didiplis diandra

Intermediate

Small North American stem plant. Tiny opposite leaves grow densely, turning red-orange under high light. Somewhat slow growth, ideal for midground. Hardy despite delicate appearance.

IntermediateStem plantRed
Downoi© No machine-readable author provided. S.Tanaka~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain

Downoi

Pogostemon helferi

Intermediate

A beautiful foreground-midground plant with star-shaped wavy leaves. A unique aquatic plant distributed from eastern India to Thailand.

DownoiStar shapeWavy leaf
Dwarf Hairgrass

Dwarf Hairgrass

Eleocharis parvula

Intermediate

A foreground plant with fine thread-like leaves spreading as a carpet. Propagates by runners across wide areas. Creates beautiful green carpet with CO2 and adequate light. Grows well in sandy substrates.

HairgrassForegroundCarpet

Glossostigma

Glossostigma elatinoides

Intermediate

The most popular foreground plant in aquascaping. Forms a lush green carpet by creeping along the substrate. Requires CO2 and strong light but grows explosively under optimal conditions. A Nature Aquarium staple.

IntermediateForegroundCarpet plant

Hairgrass

Eleocharis acicularis

Intermediate

A foreground plant with thin thread-like leaves spreading like a meadow. Spreads by runners creating natural aquascapes.

HairgrassForegroundMeadow
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Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

Intermediate

A small Hygrophila with very narrow, linear red-brown leaves and a conspicuous pale midrib. Under strong light it branches into a low, creeping bush. Named after a Brazilian river, it is actually thought to be an Asian species.

Stem plantRed leavesNarrow leaves
Hygrophila Pinnatifida

Hygrophila Pinnatifida

Hygrophila pinnatifida

Intermediate

A stem plant with deeply cut unique leaves. Has unusual ability to attach to rocks and driftwood.

PinnatifidaDeeply cutAttachment

Japanese pond lily

Nuphar japonica

Intermediate

A Japanese aquatic plant that raises thick, arrow-shaped leaves above the water and bears yellow cup-shaped flowers in summer. Its name ('river bone') comes from the thick white rhizome. It has declined widely and is red-listed in many prefectures.

Native to JapanBiotopeFlowering
Limnophila Hippuridoides

Limnophila Hippuridoides

Limnophila hippuridoides

Intermediate

A beautiful stem plant from Southeast Asia with purple-tinted leaves. CO2 enhances vivid purple coloration.

HippuridoidesPurpleStem plant
Lobelia Cardinalis© Barnes, Dr. Thomas G. / Public domain

Lobelia Cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis

Intermediate

A stem plant with bright green underwater and red flowers above. Interesting difference between submersed and emersed forms.

LobeliaRed flowersSubmersed leaf
Ludwigia© Jim Conrad / Public domain

Ludwigia

Ludwigia

Intermediate

Entry-level red aquatic plant. Red coloring depends on light and CO2. Repens and Super Red are popular varieties.

Red plantFun coloringStem plant
Ludwigia arcuata

Ludwigia arcuata

Ludwigia arcuata

Intermediate

North American stem plant with distinctive narrow needle-like leaves. Turns vivid orange to red under high light. Delicate appearance but surprisingly hardy.

IntermediateStem plantRed
Ludwigia glandulosa

Ludwigia glandulosa

Ludwigia glandulosa

Intermediate

A North American stem plant whose leaves turn vivid wine-red to red-purple under strong light. Submerged stems grow strictly upright with little branching; in insufficient light it turns green and drops its lower leaves.

Stem plantRed leavesCO2 injection

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.