If you’ve never looked at a planted tank before, you’d probably be surprised at just how vibrant and lively the aquarium seems to be.

That’s because the freshwater aquarium plants provide natural filtration for the water, help keep fish healthy, and can even help you breed your fish.

Aquarium plants are used by fish for any number of things, including safety, comfort, food, and reproduction, so they’re vital to any healthy aquarium environment.

You’ll find great resources in a few places online, but here’s a list of the top 10 freshwater aquarium plants that are nearly impossible to kill, and grow quickly in most every kind of water.

Before You Choose

It can be tempting to set up everything in your aquarium on the same day, but in most cases it’s not a good idea.

You’re aquarium needs to go through what’s called a cycling process, where the water quality and parameters and vary widely.

During this time, There are very few fish that can survive. This is why most experienced fish keepers will tell you to wait for a period of time before you put live fish in. Click here to read more about setting up your aquarium tank.

However, plants don’t require this. You’re free to add plants as soon you get the water in the aquarium! Just be sure you have the correct plant tools to avoid harming them while you’re planting.

The 10 Best Aquarium Plants For Your Tank

There are three categories of plants for most aquariums: Foreground, Midground, and Background. Each type requires various types of light, and there are certain setups that make your plants grow much more effectively.

Take a look at the best lighting setups for beginners.

Foreground Plants

Carpeting plants like Java Moss, Willow Moss, and Water Wisteria tend to stay low to the ground and spread horizontally across the floor of your aquarium. Because of this, they make a great foreground plants.

These plants are also excellent for water quality, since they tend to grow very quickly, and thus filter lots of water.

Java Moss

Java Moss is one of the most common plants in a tank. It’s low-maintenance, difficult to kill, and grows quickly.

If you attach it to a rock, it’ll crawl over the surface of your tank. it has been known to float, so it’s best advised to attach it to something to prevent any float-away.

Appearance: Low, carpetlike growth pattern. Appears ‘fuzzy’.

Low, carpetlike growth pattern. Appears ‘fuzzy’. Water Preferences: Tolerates anything between 72-90 degrees Farenheight. Growth is fastest around 73 degrees.

Tolerates anything between 72-90 degrees Farenheight. Growth is fastest around 73 degrees. Lighting Preferences: Grows well in any lighting. However, growth is fastest in medium-high lighting conditions.

Grows well in any lighting. However, growth is fastest in medium-high lighting conditions. Uses: Decoration, substrate covering and stabilization, carpeting, protection, and breeding of certain types of fish.

Our recommendation:

Dwarf Baby Tears

These are my most favorite carpeting plant. It’s tough, hard-working, and a healthy carpet of DBT looks beautiful in many of the common aquascaping styles.

As a bonus, if they’re producing oxygen, Dwarf Baby Tears have beautiful little bubbles that form on their leaves.

Appearance: Low, carpetlike growth pattern. Healthy carpets of DBT are thick and vibrant.

Low, carpetlike growth pattern. Healthy carpets of DBT are thick and vibrant. Water Preferences: Tolerates anything between 72-85 degrees Farenheight. Growth is fastest around 73-75 degrees.

Tolerates anything between 72-85 degrees Farenheight. Growth is fastest around 73-75 degrees. Lighting Preferences: Grows best in bright lighting conditions, thought amount of light affects growth patterns. Brighter light means more compact growth.

Grows best in bright lighting conditions, thought amount of light affects growth patterns. Brighter light means more compact growth. Uses: Decoration, substrate covering and stabilization, carpeting, and protection.

Our recommendation:

Dwarf Baby Tears Hemianthus Callitrichoides Java Moss Live Aquarium Plants Freshwater Fish Tank Vitro TC Cup by Greenpro LIVE AQUARIUM PLANT : Dwarf Baby tears, the most popular carpet plant also known as HC, Cuba. The beautiful...

IMPROVE WATER CLARITY : Under proper conditions, HC will provide Oxygen bubble which is called perling also,...

PS: It has been highlighted to me by Kara Van Kirk in It has been highlighted to me by Kara Van Kirk in this post that Dwarf Baby Tears might not be suitable for beginners as it requires ideal lighting and CO2. Thanks, Kara!

Dwarf Hairgrass

The aquascaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. It looks beautiful next to Stone, as well as contrasting perfectly with dark sand or soil.

It’s incredibly easy to grow. So much so that you’ll probably find yourself trimming this quite a bit!

Appearance: Small to medium sized strands of what would appear to be grass. Carpets easily in most environments.

Small to medium sized strands of what would appear to be grass. Carpets easily in most environments. Water Preferences: Tolerates most environments. Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.

Tolerates most environments. Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Grows best in bright lighting conditions

Grows best in bright lighting conditions Uses:Decoration, accenting various hardscape features such as stone and wood, carpeting, and protection.

Our recommendation:

Greenpro Dwarf Hairgrass Live Aquarium Plants Tissue Culture Cup Freshwater Fish Tank Decorations LIVE AQUARIUM PLANT : Dwarf hair grass, great carpet plants.

EASY AND LOW MAINTENANCE REQUIRED : NO need any special maintenance, Perfect for any size of aquarium tank.

PS: It has been highlighted to me by Kara Van Kirk in It has been highlighted to me by Kara Van Kirk in this post that Dwarf Hairgrass might not be suitable for beginners as it requires ideal lighting and CO2. Thanks, Kara!

Marsilea Minuta

the aqua escaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. It looks beautiful next to Stone, as well as contrasting perfectly with dark sand or soil.

It’s incredibly easy to grow. So much so that you’ll probably find yourself trimming this quite a bit!

Appearance: Easily identified by the ‘clover’ appearance of its leaves. Carpets easily in most environments.

Easily identified by the ‘clover’ appearance of its leaves. Carpets easily in most environments. Water Preferences: Tolerates most environments. Grows best in water that’s 73-78 degrees Farenheight.

Tolerates most environments. Grows best in water that’s 73-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Grows in most lighting conditions. Does best in medium lighting.

Grows in most lighting conditions. Does best in medium lighting. Uses:Decoration, accenting various hardscape features such as stone and wood, carpeting, and protection.

Our recommendation:

Amazon Sword

The Amazon Sword is the staple of most aquascapes. It’s easy to maintain, fast-growing, and can be quite beautiful when arranged in the appropriate area.

Note that these can grow quite big (up to 20 inches), so they’re most often planted in the mid-background area.

Appearance: Large swordlike leaves

Large swordlike leaves Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-82 degrees Farenheight.

Grows best in water that’s 72-82 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Growth is optimal in medium lighting.

Growth is optimal in medium lighting. Uses:Background decoration, hiding plumbing and hardware, and protection.

Our recommendation:

Greenpro 3-Bundles Amazon Sword | Echinodorus Amazonicus Live Aquarium Plants for Aquatic Freshwater Fish Tank AQUARIUM PLANTS PACKAGE : Amazon sword from Greenpro come with sturdy root system to ensure those roots will...

EASY AND LOW MAINTENANCE : Amazon sword can grow upto 20 inches. With beautiful bright green leaves will...

Java Fern

Java Fern is very a very low maintenance plant, and has a unique look that appeals to most aquascapers. Its biggest benefit is its ability to be planted in nearly any area of the aquarium without distracting from the hardscape. It also looks quite good!

Appearance: Semi-striped, thick leaves. Appears in bunches.

Semi-striped, thick leaves. Appears in bunches. Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.

Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Growth is optimal in low-medium lighting.

Growth is optimal in low-medium lighting. Uses:Decoration and protection.

Our recommendation:

Aquatic Arts Java Fern - Huge 3 by 5 inch Mat with 30 to 50 Leaves - Live Aquarium Plant Ships as a 5 by 3 inch mat with 30 to 50 huge leaves

Bright and healthy; directly from a dedicated tank which causes your plant arrive in good shape

Anubias Nana

Anubias Nana is one of the more appealing midground plants you’ll find in aquascaping. It tolerates nearly any water quality or environment.

With curved stems and large semi-round leaves, it’s a great match for the stone aquascaping present in most aquariums.

Appearance: Curved stems with medium-sized, semi-round leaves.

Curved stems with medium-sized, semi-round leaves. Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.

Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Growth is optimal in medium lighting.

Growth is optimal in medium lighting. Uses:Decoration and protection. Looks beautiful in any aquarium placement.

Our recommendation:

Aquatic Arts Dwarf Anubias Nana - Live Aquarium Plant with Large Leaves Bright and healthy; directly from a dedicated tank which causes your plant arrive in good shape

3 to 5 inches tall; 3 to 4 inches wide

Pygmy Chain Sword

This plant isn’t often seen in aquascaping. Mostly because it’s very similar to what we see everyday of our lives—grass. It’s useful for placement around hardscapes, and is beautiful when properly trimmed.

However, it’s nearly impossible to accidentally kill it!

Appearance: Strikingly similar to most lawn grass.

Strikingly similar to most lawn grass. Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.

Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Growth is optimal in medium-bright lighting.

Growth is optimal in medium-bright lighting. Uses:Decoration and protection. Good for placement around hardscapes.

Our recommendation:

Pogostemon helferi

Besides having an interesting name, this is one of the most unique foreground plants available to aquascapers today. It has a striking zig-zag shape in its leaves, and grows in a ‘blooming’ pattern that’s visually appealing in front of hardscapes.

Appearance: Beautiful ‘blooming’ growth pattern. Zig-zag shaped leaves.

Beautiful ‘blooming’ growth pattern. Zig-zag shaped leaves. Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.

Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Growth is optimal in medium lighting.

Growth is optimal in medium lighting. Uses:Decoration and protection. Good for placement around hardscapes.

Our recommendation:

Pogostemon Helferi Downoi Small+ Free See Description, Live Aquarium Plants Shipping 2-3 days - priority mail, It will be packed w/ multiple layers of insulation to protect from the hot...

Plants can live underwater, Roots will grow within a few days once planted in your aquarium.

Dwarf Sagittaria

Dwarf Saggitaria is an easily-maintained plant that maxes out at around 4-6 inches, making it perfect for midground aquascapes. Placing Dwarf Saggitaria around stonework or driftwood is an ideal location, giving it a perfect place to root into the wood or stone, and is an ideal complement.

Appearance: Vibrant green leaves with curved blades.

Vibrant green leaves with curved blades. Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.

Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight. Lighting Preferences: Growth is optimal in medium lighting.

Growth is optimal in medium lighting. Uses:Decoration and protection. Good for placement around hardscapes.

Our recommendation:

Dwarf Sagittaria Subulata 3-Bunch Freshwater Live Aquarium Plants Carpet Tank Greenpro AQUARIUM PLANTS PACKAGE : Dwarf Sagittaria from Greenpro come with sturdy root system to ensure those roots...

EASY AND LOW MAINTENANCE : Dwarf Sagittaria Subulata, undemanding foreground plant whose short runners form a...

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