Best Freshwater Aquarium Plants For Beginners (2023 Guide)

In this guide on the best freshwater aquarium plants for beginners you will learn:

• How to choose aquarium plants
• The different types of aquarium plants
• The best foreground (or carpet) plants
• The best mid and background aquarium plants

Let’s get started.

Overview Of The Best Aquarium Plants

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to Choose your Aquarium Plants

Choosing live plants for your aquarium might seem as simple as heading to your local fish store and picking out a few bundles.

But, if you want your plants to thrive, you have to put as much thought into choosing them as you did for your fish and your other tank decorations.

There are many different live aquarium plants to choose from and they each have their own unique requirements for care.

So before you stock your tank with aquarium plants, you should take a minute to think about why you want them, which types would best suit your tank, and how you’ll care for them.

Let’s discuss how you can do this.

Think About Why You Want Aquarium Plants

Your first step in choosing live plants for your aquarium is to spend a moment thinking about why you want aquarium plants in the first place.

Live plants can provide a variety of helpful benefits, but you still need to consider how you want to use them and why.

Here are the  benefits live plants can provide in your aquarium:

• Convert carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen for your fish.
• Live plants use nitrates and other chemical waste products, helping remove them from the water column so they don’t harm your fish.
• Saturates your tank water with oxygen which helps aerate the tank.
• You achieve a natural look.
• Provide shelter and security for fish and break up sightlines which can be beneficial for territorial fish.
• Can be used to conceal aquarium fixtures to improve aesthetics.

In addition to these benefits, aquarium plants help improve and maintain the quality of your tank water.

High water quality is essential for the health and wellness of your fish. When water quality is low, your fish become stressed and that makes them more susceptible to illness.

Pro Tip: Frequent water changes are essential for maintaining high water quality in your aquarium. Change 10% to 15% of your tank’s volume once a week or every two weeks. And keep an eye on your filter to make sure it’s not clogged.

When thinking about why you want aquarium plants in your tank, the reasons listed above are important to consider.

The benefits of live plants are obvious, however, so you’ll want to spend a little more time thinking about the details – how you want your tank to look when you add the plants.

Live plants come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Depending on the size and shape you choose, you can use aquarium plants to create a lush carpet along the bottom of your tank or a living backdrop to your aquarium.

The Different Types of Aquarium Plants

Now that you have a better understanding of the role aquarium plants play in your tank environment, you’re ready to start thinking about which plants you want to use.

Aquarium plants can be divided into three different categories based on their placement in the tank:

• Foreground plants
• Mid-ground plants
• Background plants

Foreground plants are the plants you place at the front of the tank – they are generally shorter and grow fairly slowly.

Some foreground plants are called carpet plants because they tend to spread outward rather than upward, covering the bottom of the tank with a green carpet-like layer.

Mid-ground plants are taller than foreground plants and can be used along the sides of your tank and in the middle.

They can add to the aesthetics of your tank without taking away too much valuable swimming space.

Background plants are the larger plants you use in the back of your aquarium – they can create a natural backdrop for your tank as well as a place for your fish to hide.

What’s in Your Tank?

Something else you should think about when considering what kind of aquarium plants to get is the substrate in your tank.

Again, live plants require certain nutrients in order to thrive. And while they’ll absorb some nutrients from the water column, most of their nutrition will be absorbed through the roots – this is where your substrate comes into play.

Substrate is simply the material that lines the bottom of your tank and it is where you will root your plants.

Sand and gravel substrates are fine for fish-only tanks but a planted tank will require a complete substrate that provides nutrients.

If your tank is already set up, you’ll need to take your substrate into account when choosing which live plants you want to add and how many of them.

Pro Tip:  Though light is the primary source of energy for live aquarium plants, they also require certain nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients like iron, manganese, and boron.

If you’re using a complete substrate like CaribSea Eco-Complete or ADA aqua soil, you have plenty of options – these substrates are designed specifically for planted tanks.

If you have sand or gravel substrate, you may still be able to add live plants, but you’ll need to fertilize them occasionally to make sure they get the nutrients they need.

Another type of substrate you may be using is Seachem Flourite.

This substrate is high in iron but lacking in other nutrients – it is also very dense and porous and not an ideal choice for plants with delicate roots.

If you have soil substrate, most plants are likely to do well but you should keep in mind that it may cloud the water in your tank if you disturb it to root your plants.

Pro Tip:  Some plants are column feeders, meaning they’ll get most of their nutrients from your tank water. If this is the case, you’ll have no problem keeping plants with a substrate that provides no nutritional value. 

Aquarium Plants and Lighting

Light’s a key source of energy for your aquarium plants – it allows them to complete the process of photosynthesis through which they convert carbon dioxide into energy.

There are many different options for aquarium lighting but not all of them are ideal for live plants. Some plants prefer low-lighting and vice-versa.

Your plants will need about 8 hours of full-spectrum light per day – full-spectrum light mimics natural sunlight and it is the best for photosynthesis.

Be careful about using natural light, however, (such as placing your tank next to a window) because too much light could contribute to algae growth.

The best type of lighting for a planted tank is LED aquarium lighting. LED lighting is highly efficient in terms of energy consumption and the bulbs last a long time.

These fixtures also do not produce heat like some fixtures (such as VHO or metal halide) so you don’t have to worry about overheating your tank. They’re also much cheaper to run.

Top 11 Aquarium Plants for Beginners Reviewed

Now you have a deeper understanding on aquarium plants, you can use the following information to make an informed buying decision.

How I have structured this section: 

To make things easier for you, I’ve split this into two section for you: foreground and mid/background plants.

The Best Carpet (Foreground) Plants for Beginners

Remember, foreground or carpet plants are the ones that grow slowly and have a limited height – they tend to spread outward rather than upward and they can create a lush carpet of green along the bottom of your tank.

Here are the best foreground plants for beginner aquarists:

1. Java Moss

Java Moss grows best in clean, well-circulated water and it will grow faster in bright lighting. It is an excellent carpet plant because it spreads quickly and is easy to trim.

• Light Required: Moderate
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Ideal Water Parameters: 74-82°F, KH 3-8, pH 6.5-7.5
• Difficulty: Very easy

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Lilaeopsis

Also known as Brazilian Micro Swords, Lilaeopsis is a short-stemmed plant that does well as a carpet plant. It can grow fully or partially submerged and it forms a dense carpet with the right combination of lighting, CO2, and other nutrients.

• Light Required: High
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Ideal Water Parameters: 70 to 83°F, pH 6.8 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard
• Difficulty: Moderate

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Dwarf Baby Tears

This plant produces clusters of tiny leaves and it is ideal for breeding tanks. Dwarf baby tears form a dense carpet with proper lighting, and it is generally easy to care for once established.

• Light Required: High
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Ideal Water Parameters: 68 to 82°F, KH 0-10, pH 5.0-7.5
• Difficulty: Moderate

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Best Plants for the Middle or Background of Your Tank

Remember, middle ground plants are low to moderately high and they should be used as the focal point for your tank.

Background plants are taller and can be used along the back and sides of the tank to provide shelter for your fish.

Here are the best mid to background plants:

4. Water Wisteria

This plant produces lace-like leaves that vary in size according to the water temperature. Water wisteria can be easily propagated by taking cuttings from the lower leaves.

• Light Required: Moderate
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Ideal Water Parameters: 74-82°F, KH 3-8, pH 6.5-7.5
• Difficulty: Easy

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. Amazon Sword

One of the most recognizable aquarium plants, Amazon sword is an ideal background plant that produces large, broad leaves. It is easy to care for and prefers loose substrate.

• Light Required: Moderate
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Ideal Water Parameters: 72 to 82°F, pH 6.5-7.5, soft to moderately hard
• Difficulty: Easy

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

6. African Water Fern

This plant grows fairly slowly, even in ideal conditions, and it is best anchored to a piece of driftwood instead of rooted in substrate. Once established, it is easy to maintain.

• Light Required: High
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Ideal Water Parameters: 74 to 84°F, KH 5-15, pH 6.0-8.5
• Difficulty: Easy

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

7. Java Fern

This plant is extremely easy to grow and it comes in different sizes and leaf shapes. Java fern does well in moderate lighting – if the lighting is too strong, the leaves may turn brown.

• Light Required: Low to Moderate
• Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
• Ideal Water Parameters: 72 to 82°F, pH 6.0-8.0, soft to moderately hard
• Difficulty: Easy

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

8. Anubias

One of the easiest plants for beginners, anubias is hardy and easy to grow. This plant is commonly anchored to rocks or driftwood instead of being rooted. When rooted, the rhizome should be left above the substrate to prevent rot.

• Light Required: Low
• Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
• Ideal Water Parameters: 72 to 82°F, pH 6.5-7.5, soft to moderately hard
• Difficulty: Easy

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9. Cryptocoryne Beckettii

Also known was water trumpet, this plant is a great mid-ground plant. It is very tolerant with water parameters and does well in low to medium light.

• Light Required: Low to Moderate
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Ideal Water Parameters: 72 to 82°F, pH 5.5-8.0, KH 1-20
• Difficulty: Easy once established

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

10. Aponogeton Ulvaceus Bulb

A beautiful plant that produces rippled leaves, this species is very tolerant and spreads well as a background plant. A single bulb produces up to 40 leaves.

• Light Required: Moderate
• Growth Rate: High
• Ideal Water Parameters: 68 to 72°F, pH 6.5-7.5, soft to moderately hard
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

11. Dwarf Aquarium Lily

An attractive plant that produces uniquely shaped leaves, the dwarf aquarium lily is easy to care for. The bulb must be planted halfway out of the substrate or it will die.

• Light Required: Low to Moderate
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Ideal Water Parameters: 72 to 82°F, pH 5.0-8.0, soft to moderately hard
• Difficulty: Easy

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Summing up Choosing the Best Beginner Aquarium Plants

When it comes to decorating your aquarium, you are free to use your own creativity.

If you want to  cultivate a lush and thriving tank with a natural appearance, however, you should include some live plants.

The live plants described in this article are perfect for a beginner, so take what you’ve learned and put it to use!

Happy fish-keeping!

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API