Aquarium plants
Live plants for the foreground, midground and background, species to tie onto rock, mosses and floating plants, beginners included.
Advice and care
How to choose aquarium plants
Where a plant goes, how much light it gets and whether you add CO2 decide what fits.
Position
Carpets in the foreground, Cryptocoryne in the midground, tall stem plants at the back.
Light and CO2
Easy plants grow under standard light without CO2; carpets and red plants need both.
Epiphytes
Anubias, bucephalandra and mosses are tied to stone or wood, not planted in the substrate.
Popular brands
All brandsFrequently asked questions
Which plants suit a beginner?
Choose plants marked 'Easy': they grow under a standard light and without CO2. Good picks are anubias, Java fern, Cryptocoryne and mosses.
What is the difference between potted and 1-2-Grow! plants?
A potted plant is large and ready to plant at once. A 1-2-Grow! plant is grown sterile in gel, free of snails and algae, and suits shrimp tanks especially well.
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Live plants work in the tank even when you do not notice: they take up excess nutrients, leave less food for algae and give fish and shrimp cover. A densely planted tank usually keeps more stable water.
Plants come in two forms. A potted plant is larger and fills space straight away. A lab-grown plant is smaller but free of snails and algae, so it suits shrimp tanks and planting a carpet in small portions.
The most common mistake is choosing a plant by its looks rather than its needs: carpeting plants and red stem plants stay stunted in weak light without CO2. Start with easier species and support growth with a nutrient-rich substrate and liquid fertiliser. Each plant's page lists its height and its light and CO2 needs.
Related guides
All guides
Planting5 min read5 sections
How to plant aquarium plants: rhizomes, stems and tweezers
A step-by-step guide to planting aquarium plants: which go into the substrate and which on wood, how deep to plant and what to do in the first days.
Read the guide
Beginners4 min read6 sections
Easy aquarium plants for beginners: 8 undemanding species
Plants for a first aquarium: 8 species with difficulty Easy and low light and CO2 demand. See where to place them and how to look after them.
Read the guide
Delivery and cold5 min read5 sections
Ordering aquarium plants in autumn and winter: delivery and frost
How to order live plants in autumn and winter: delivery up to 14 business days, frost risk below 0 °C, unpacking, acclimatisation and limp leaves.
Read the guide