List of freshwater aquarium plant species

Aquatic plants are used to give the freshwater aquarium a natural appearance, oxygenate the water, absorb ammonia, and provide habitat for fish, especially fry (babies) and for invertebrates. Some aquarium fish and invertebrates also eat live plants. Hobbyists use aquatic plants for aquascaping, of several aesthetic styles.

Most of these plant species are found either partially or fully submerged in their natural habitat. Although there are a handful of obligate aquatic plants that must be grown entirely underwater, most can grow fully emersed if the soil is moist. Though some are just living at the water margins, still, they can live in the completely submerged habitat.

By scientific name
The taxonomy of most plant genera is not final. Scientific names listed here may, therefore, contradict other sources. Many of these species are dangerous invasives and should be disposed of in a way that guarantees that they will not enter local waters.

Common aquarium plant species:


 * Aciotis acuminifolia
 * Acmella repens
 * Acorus calamus (Common sweet flag)
 * Acorus gramineus (Japanese sweet flag)
 * Aldrovanda vesiculosa
 * Alisma canaliculatum
 * Alisma gramineum
 * Alisma lanceolatum
 * Alisma nanum
 * Alisma orientale
 * Alisma plantago-aquatica
 * Alisma subcordatum
 * Alisma triviale
 * Alisma wahlenbergii
 * Alternanthera bettzickiana
 * Alternanthera philoxeroides
 * Alternanthera reineckii
 * Alternanthera sessilis
 * Ammania capitellata
 * Ammannia crassicaulis (Synonym Nesaea crassicaulis)
 * Ammania gracilis (Delicate ammania, red ammania)
 * Ammania latifolia
 * Ammannia pedicellata
 * Ammannia praetemissa
 * Ammania senegalensis
 * Anubias afzelii (Narrow-leafed anubias)
 * Anubias barteri var. barteri (Broadleaved anubias)
 * Anubias barteri var. angustifolia
 * Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia
 * Anubias barteri var. glabra
 * Anubias barteri var. nana (Dwarf anubias)
 * Anubias gigantea
 * Anubias gilletti
 * Anubias gracilis
 * Anubias hastifolia
 * Anubias heterophylla
 * Anubias pynaertii
 * Aponogeton appendiculatus
 * Aponogeton bernierianus
 * Aponogeton boivinianus
 * Aponogeton capuronii
 * Aponogeton crispus (Crinkled or ruffled aponogeton)
 * Aponogeton decartyi
 * Aponogeton desertorum
 * Aponogeton dioecus
 * Aponogeton distachyos
 * Aponogeton elongatus
 * Aponogeton fenestralis
 * Aponogeton henkelianus
 * Aponogeton junceus
 * Aponogeton longiplumulosus
 * Aponogeton loriae
 * Aponogeton madagascariensis (Madagascar laceleaf, lace plant)
 * Aponogeton natans
 * Aponogeton rigidifolius
 * Aponogeton tenuispicatus
 * Aponogeton ulvaceus (Compact apongeton)
 * Aponogeton undulatus
 * Armoracia aquatica
 * Arthraxon hispidus
 * Azolla caroliniana (water velvet, mosquito fern)
 * Azolla filiculoïdes (Azolla, moss fern)
 * Azolla pinnata
 * Bacopa amplexicaulis
 * Bacopa australis
 * Bacopa caroliniana (lemon bacopa, water hyssop, giant bacopa)
 * Bacopa crenata
 * Bacopa innominata
 * Bacopa lanigera
 * Bacopa madagascarensis
 * Bacopa monnieri (water hyssop, dwarf bacopa, baby tears)
 * Bacopa myriophylloides
 * Bacopa rotundifolia (Round bacopa)
 * Bacopa salzmannii
 * Bacopa serpyllifolia
 * Baldellia ranunculoides
 * Barclaya longifolia (Orchid lily)
 * Barclaya motleyi
 * Berula erecta
 * Blyxa aubertii
 * Blyxa echinosperma
 * Blyxa japonica (Japanese rush)
 * Blyxa novoguineensis
 * Blyxa octandra
 * Bolbitis heteroclita (sometimes sold as B. asiatica)
 * Bolbitis heudelotii (African or Congo fern)
 * Bucephalandra gigantea
 * Bucephalandra motleyana
 * Bucephalandra catherineae
 * Cabomba aquatica (Yellow cabomba, giant cabomba)
 * Cabomba caroliniana (Green cabomba)
 * Cabomba furcata
 * Cabomba palaeformis
 * Cabomba piauhyensis (Red cabomba)
 * Caldesia parnassifolia
 * Calla palustris
 * Caltha palustris
 * Callitriche hamulata
 * Callitriche hermaphroditica
 * Callitriche palustris
 * Callitriche stagnalis
 * Callitriche terestris
 * Cardamine lyrata (Chinese ivy, Japanese cress)
 * Cardamine rotundifolia
 * Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort)
 * Ceratophyllum submersum (tropical hornwort)
 * Ceratopteris cornuta
 * Ceratopteris pteridoides
 * Ceratopteris thalictroides (water sprite)
 * Cladophora aegagropila
 * Clinopodium brownei
 * Crassula aquatica
 * Crassula helmsii
 * Crinum calamistratum
 * Crinum natans (African onion plant)
 * Crinum purpurascens
 * Crinum thaianum (water onion)
 * Cryptocoryne affinis
 * Cryptocoryne alba
 * Cryptocoryne albida
 * Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia
 * Cryptocoryne auriculata
 * Cryptocoryne axelrodii
 * Cryptocoryne balansae
 * Cryptocoryne beckettii (Beckett's Cryptocoryne)
 * Cryptocoryne blassii
 * Cryptocoryne bogneri
 * Cryptocoryne bullosa
 * Cryptocoryne ciliata
 * Cryptocoryne cognata
 * Cryptocoryne cordata (Giant cryptocoryne)
 * Cryptocoryne crispatula
 * Cryptocoryne cruddasiana
 * Cryptocoryne dewitii
 * Cryptocoryne diderici
 * Cryptocoryne elliptica
 * Cryptocoryne ferruginea
 * Cryptocoryne fusca
 * Cryptocoryne gasserii
 * Cryptocoryne grabowskii
 * Cryptocoryne gracilis
 * Cryptocoryne griffithii
 * Cryptocoryne hudoroi
 * Cryptocoryne keei
 * Cryptocoryne legroi
 * Cryptocoryne lingua
 * Cryptocoryne longicauda
 * Cryptocoryne lucens
 * Cryptocoryne lutea
 * Cryptocoryne minima
 * Cryptocoryne moehlmannii (Moehlmann's cryptocoryne)
 * Cryptocoryne nevillii
 * Cryptocoryne nurii
 * Cryptocoryne pallidinervia
 * Cryptocoryne parva (Tiny cryptocoryne)
 * Cryptocoryne petchii
 * Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
 * Cryptocoryne purpurea
 * Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
 * Cryptocoryne schulzei
 * Cryptocoryne scrurillis
 * Cryptocoryne siamensis
 * Cryptocoryne spiralis
 * Cryptocoryne striolata
 * Cryptocoryne thwaitesii
 * Cryptocoryne tonkinensis
 * Cryptocoryne undulata (Undulate cryptocoryne)
 * Cryptocoryne usteriana
 * Cryptocoryne venemae
 * Cryptocoryne versteegii
 * Cryptocoryne walkeri
 * Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica'
 * Cryptocoryne x willisii
 * Cryptocoryne zewaldiae
 * Cryptocoryne zonata
 * Cryptocoryne zukalii
 * Cuphea anagalloidea
 * Cyperus alternifolius
 * Cyperus helferi
 * Cyperus papyrus
 * Damasonium alisma
 * Didiplis diandra (Water hedge)
 * Diodia kuntzei
 * Diodia virginiana
 * Echinodorus africanus
 * Echinodorus amazonicus (Amazon sword)
 * Echinodorus andrieuxii
 * Echinodorus angustifolius
 * Echinodorus argentinensis
 * Echinodorus aschersonianus
 * Echinodorus barthii
 * Echinodorus berteroi
 * Echinodorus bleheri (Broadleaved amazon)
 * Echinodorus brevipedicellatus
 * Echinodorus cordifolius (Radicans sword, spade leaf sword)
 * Echinodorus fluitans
 * Echinodorus grandiflorus (Large-flowered amazon)
 * Echinodorus horemanii (Black-red amazon)
 * Echinodorus horizontalis
 * Echinodorus humilis
 * Echinodorus latifolius
 * Echinodorus longiscapus
 * Echinodorus macrophyllus (Large-leaved amazon sword)
 * Echinodorus martii
 * Echinodorus major (Ruffled amazon sword)
 * Echinodorus opacus (Opaque amazon sword)
 * Echinodorus osiris (Red amazon sword)
 * Echinodorus 'Ozelot'
 * Echinodorus palaefolius
 * Echinodorus paniculatus
 * Echinodorus parviflorus (Black amazon sword)
 * Echinodorus pelliscidus
 * Echinodorus quadricostatus (Dwarf sword)
 * Echinodorus radicans
 * Echinodorus rigidifolius
 * Echinodorus 'Rubin'
 * Echinodorus rubra
 * Echinodorus schlueteri
 * Echinodorus subalatus
 * Echinodorus tunicatus
 * Echinodorus uruguayensis (Uruguay amazon sword)
 * Egeria densa (Elodea, pondweed)
 * Egeria najas
 * Egleria fluctuans
 * Eichhornia azurea
 * Eichhornia crassipes (Water hyacinth)
 * Eichhornia diversifolia
 * Elatine gussonei
 * Elatine hydropiper
 * Elatine macropoda
 * Elatine triandra
 * Eleocharis acicularis (Hairgrass)
 * Eleocharis dulcis
 * Eleocharis minima
 * Eleocharis obtusa
 * Eleocharis parvula
 * Eleocharis vivipara
 * Elodea canadensis (Canadian pondweed)
 * Elodea granatensis
 * Elodea nuttallii
 * Elodea occidentalis
 * Equisetum spp.
 * Eriocaulon amanoanum
 * Eriocaulon cinereum
 * Eriocaulon depressum
 * Eriocaulon parkeri
 * Eusteralis stellata (Star rotala)
 * Fittonia argyroneura
 * Fontinalis antipyretica (Willow moss)
 * Glossadelphus zollingeri
 * Glossostigma diandrum
 * Glossostigma elatinoides
 * Gratiola amphiantha
 * Gratiola brevefolia
 * Gratiola viscidula
 * Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (Spadeleaf plant)
 * Helanthium bolivianum (Bolivian sword) (Synonym - Echinodorus bolivianus)
 * Helanthium tenellum (Pygmy chain sword) (Synonym - Echinodorus tenellus)
 * Helanthium zombiense 
 * Hemianthus callitrichoides (Dwarf helzine)
 * Hemianthus micranthemoides (Pearlweed)
 * Heteranthera dubia
 * Heteranthera reniformis
 * Heteranthera zosterifolia (Stargrass)
 * Hippuris vulgaris
 * Hottonia inflata
 * Hottonia palustris (Water violet)
 * Hydrilla verticillata
 * Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
 * Hydrocleys martii
 * Hydrocleys nymphoides
 * Hydrocotyle leucocephala (Brazilian pennywort)
 * Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
 * Hydrocotyle tripartita
 * Hydrocotyle verticillata (Whorled umbrella plant)
 * Hydrocotyle vulgaris
 * Hydrothrix gardneri
 * Hydrotriche hottoniiflora
 * Hygrophila angustifolia
 * Hygrophila corymbosa 'crispa'
 * Hygrophila corymbosa 'glabra' (Broadlead giant stricta)
 * Hygrophila corymbosa 'gracilis'
 * Hygrophila corymbosa 'siamensis'
 * Hygrophila corymbosa 'strigosa'
 * Hygrophila difformis (Water wisteria)
 * Hygrophila guianensis
 * Hygrophila lacustris
 * Hygrophila lancea
 * Hygrophila natalis
 * Hygrophila polysperma (Dwarf hygrophilia)
 * Hygrophila salicifolia
 * Hygrophila stricta (Thai stricta, green stricta)
 * Hygroryza aristata
 * Hyptis lorentziana
 * Iris spp.
 * Isoetes lacustris (quillwort)
 * Isoetes malinverniana
 * Isoetes taiwanensis
 * Isoetes velata
 * Isolepis setracea
 * Jasarum steyermarkii
 * Juncus repens
 * Lagarosiphon cordofanus
 * Lagarosiphon madagascariensis
 * Lagarosiphon major (Elodea crispa)
 * Lagenandra dewitii
 * Lagenandra insignis
 * Lagenandra koenigii
 * Lagenandra lancifolia
 * Lagenandra meeboldii
 * Lagenandra nairii
 * Lagenandra ovata
 * Lagenandra thwaitesii
 * Lemna gibba
 * Lemna minor (Duckweed)
 * Lemna paucicostata
 * Lemna perpusilla
 * Lemna trisulca
 * Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
 * Lilaeopsis carolinensis
 * Lilaeopsis macloviana
 * Lilaeopsis mauritiana
 * Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae (New Zealand grassplant)
 * Lilaeopsis ruthiana
 * Limnobium laevigatum (Amazon frogbit)
 * Limnobium spongia
 * Limnocharis flava
 * Limnophila aquatica (Giant ambulia)
 * Limnophila aromatica
 * Limnophila glabra
 * Limnophila heterophylla
 * Limnophila indica (Indian ambulia)
 * Limnophila sessiliflora (Dwarf ambulia)
 * Limnophyton fluitans
 * Lindernia crustacea F. Muell.
 * Lindernia dubia
 * Lindernia grandiflora
 * Lindernia parviflora
 * Lindernia rotundifolia
 * Littorella uniflora
 * Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower, scarlet lobelia)
 * Lobelia dortmanna
 * Lomariopsis sp. (Süsswassertang)
 * Ludwigia alternifolia
 * Ludwigia arcuata
 * Ludwigia glandulosa (Glandular ludwigia, red star ludwigia)
 * Ludwigia helminthorrhiza
 * Ludwigia inclinata
 * Ludwigia inclinata var. verticellata 'Cuba'
 * Ludwigia mullertii
 * Ludwigia natans
 * Ludwigia sedioides
 * Ludwigia palustris
 * Ludwigia pulvinaris
 * Ludwigia repens (Creeping ludwigia, narrow-leaf ludwigia)
 * Luronium natans
 * Lycopodiella inundata (Lycopodium inundatum)
 * Lysimachia nummularia (creeping Jenny, moneywort)
 * Marsilea crenata
 * Marsilea drummondii
 * Marsilea hirsuta
 * Marsilea pubescens
 * Marsilea quadrifolia (water-clover)
 * Mayaca fluviatilis
 * Mayaca madida (Synonym Mayaca sellowiana)
 * Mayaca vandellii
 * Mentha aquatica
 * Micranthemum umbrosum (Helzine)
 * Microcarpaea minima
 * Microsorum pteropus (Java fern)
 * Monochoria vaginalis
 * Monosolenium tenerum (commercial name; plants sold under this name are actually a fern Lomariopsis sp. )
 * Murdannia keisak
 * Myriophyllum alterniflorum
 * Myriophyllum aquaticum (Brazilian milfoil, milfoil)
 * Myriophyllum elatinoides
 * Myriophyllum heterophyllum
 * Myriophyllum hippuroides (Green milfoil, water milfoil)
 * Myriophyllum mattogrossense
 * Myriophyllum proserpinacoides
 * Myriophyllum scabratum (Foxtail)
 * Myriophyllum spicatum
 * Myriophyllum tuberculatum (Red myriophyllum)
 * Myriophyllum ussuriense
 * Myriophyllum verticillatum
 * Myriophylumm oguraense
 * Najas graminea
 * Najas guadelupensis
 * Najas indica
 * Najas marina
 * Najas minor
 * Najas pectinata
 * Nechamandra alternifolia
 * Nelumbo nucifera
 * Neptunia oleracea
 * Nitella capillaris
 * Nitella flexilis
 * Nitella gracilis
 * Nomaphila siamensis
 * Nuphar advenum
 * Nuphar japonica (Spatterdock)
 * Nuphar lutea (Yellow water-lily)
 * Nuphar pumilum
 * Nuphar sagittifolium
 * Nymphaea alba
 * Nymphaea lotus (Tiger lotus)
 * Nymphaea lotus var. rubra
 * Nymphaea micrantha
 * Nymphaea pubescens
 * Nymphaea pygmea
 * Nymphaea stellata (Red and blue water lily)
 * Nymphaea zenkeri 'Red' (Red tiger lotus)
 * Nymphoides aquatica (Banana plant)
 * Nymphoides humboldtiana
 * Nymphoides indica
 * Nymphoides peltata
 * Oenanthe javanica
 * Oenanthe aquatica
 * Oldenlandia salzmannii (Synonym Hedyotis salzmannii)
 * Orontium aquaticum
 * Ottelia alismoides
 * Ottelia mesenterum
 * Ottelia ulvifolia
 * Penthorum sedoides
 * Persicaria hydropiperoides
 * Persicaria praetermissa
 * Pilularia americana
 * Pilularia globulifera
 * Pistia stratiotes (Water lettuce)
 * Phyllanthus fluitans
 * Physostegia purpurea
 * Pogostemon helferi
 * Pogostemon stellatus
 * Pontederia cordata
 * Potamogeton coloratus
 * Potamogeton crispus
 * Potamogeton densus
 * Potamogeton filiformis
 * Potamogeton gayi
 * Potamogeton gramineus
 * Potamogeton lucens
 * Potamogeton malaianus
 * Potamogeton natans
 * Potamogeton perfoliatus
 * Proserpinaca palustris
 * Ranunculus aquatilis
 * Ranunculus limosella
 * Regnellidium diphyllum
 * Riccia fluitans (Crystalwort)
 * Ricciocarpos natans
 * Rorippa aquatica
 * Rotala indica
 * Rotala macrandra (Giant red rotala)
 * Rotala mexicana
 * Rotala ramosior
 * Rotala rotundifolia (Dwarf rotala)
 * Rotala pusilla
 * Rotala wallichii (Whorly rotala)
 * Ruppia maritima
 * Sagittaria chapmani
 * Sagittaria eatonii
 * Sagittaria filiformis
 * Sagittaria graminea
 * Sagittaria guyanensis
 * Sagittaria isoëtiformis
 * Sagittaria latifolia
 * Sagittaria microfila
 * Sagittaria montevidensis
 * Sagittaria natans
 * Sagittaria papillosa
 * Sagittaria platyphylla (giant sagittaria)
 * Sagittaria pusilla (dwarf sagittaria)
 * Sagittaria sagittifolia
 * Sagittaria subulata (needle sagittaria, floating arrowhead)
 * Salvinia auriculata
 * Salvinia cucullata
 * Salvinia minima
 * Salvinia natans (water spangles)
 * Salvinia oblongifolia
 * Salvinia rotundifolia
 * Samolus valerandi (Water cabbage)
 * Saururus cernuus (Lizard's tail)
 * Schismatoglottis prietoi
 * Selaginella sp.
 * Sium floridanum
 * Sium latifolium
 * Shinnersia rivularis (Mexican oak leaf)
 * Spiranthes romanzoffiana
 * Spirodela polyrhiza
 * Staurogyne repens
 * Staurogyne stolonifera
 * Stratiotes aloides
 * Stuckenia vaginata
 * Subularia aquatica
 * Syngonanthus caulescens
 * Synnema triflorum (out of date synonym)
 * Taxiphyllum barbieri (Java moss)
 * Tonina fluviatilis
 * Trapa natans (Water chestnut)
 * Triglochin maritima
 * Triglochin palustris
 * Triglochin striata
 * Trithuria austinensis
 * Trithuria austinensis
 * Trithuria australis
 * Trithuria inconspicua
 * Typha angustifolia
 * Typha latifolia
 * Utricularia bifida
 * Utricularia gibba
 * Utricularia graminifolia
 * Utricularia minor
 * Utricularia vulgaris
 * Vallisneria americana (Dwarf vallisneria)
 * Vallisneria asiatica
 * Vallisneria asiatica var. biwaensis (Corkscrew vallisneria)
 * Vallisneria gigantea (Giant vallisneria)
 * Vallisneria neotropicalis
 * Vallisneria rubra
 * Vallisneria spiralis (Straight vallisneria)
 * Vallisneria tortifolia (Twisted vallisneria, dwarf vallisneria)
 * Vallisneria tortissima
 * Vesicularia montagnei (Christmas moss, Xmas moss)
 * Veronica americana
 * Wolffia arrhiza
 * Wolffia microscopica
 * Wolffiella floridana
 * Zannichellia palustris

False aquatics or pseudo-aquarium plants
Several species of terrestrial plants are frequently sold as "aquarium plants". While such plants are beautiful and can survive and even flourish for months under water, they will eventually die and must be removed so their decay does not contaminate the aquarium water. These plants have no necessary biology to live underwater.


 * Aglaonema modestum (Chinese evergreen)
 * Aglaonema simplex
 * Chlorophytum bichetii (Pongol sword)
 * Dracaena sanderiana (Striped dragonplant)
 * Hemigraphis colorata (Crimson ivy)
 * Ophiopogon japonicus (Fountain plant)
 * Pilea cadierei (Aluminum plant)
 * Sciadopitys verticillata) (Umbrella pine, koyamaki)
 * Spathiphyllum tasson (Brazil sword)
 * Syngonium podophyllum (Stardust ivy)
 * Trichomanes javanicum