Aquarium Plant Enclyclopedia

This Aquarium Plant Encyclopedia is built on applied plant science.

Our evaluations draw from horticultural literature, aquatic plant research, and direct laboratory experience studying plant physiology, carbon limitation, nutrient uptake, and the biological causes of plant failure. That scientific foundation shapes how we assess each species — not just how it looks, but how it performs under real aquarium conditions.

Each entry provides clear, practical guidance on difficulty, growth rate, size, placement, lighting, water parameters, and CO₂ requirements. Whether a plant thrives in low-tech setups or responds dramatically to CO₂ injection and higher light is explained in straightforward terms.

But this is not an academic database. It’s written for aquarists.

The goal is to help you choose plants that match your system, avoid common pitfalls, and build healthier, more stable planted freshwater aquariums. Use the filters to explore by difficulty, growth habit, or CO₂ needs — and select species that fit your goals, not just your aesthetic.

Encyclopedia Home

Proserpinaca palustris

Mermaid Weed

Proserpinaca palustris brings standout color to a planted tank while staying practical to grow, making it a fun choice for aquascapes that need a bright accent. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Riccia fluitans

Riccia

Riccia fluitans is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Rotala 'Nanjenshan'

Rotala sp. 'Green'

Rotala 'Nanjenshan' is a classic, adaptable plant that’s easy to fit into many setups, offering reliable growth and a clean, natural look. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Rotala Vietnam H’ra

Rotala Vietnam H’ra brings standout color to a planted tank while staying practical to grow, making it a fun choice for aquascapes that need a bright accent. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Rotala robustus 'Mini'

Rotala indica, Ammania bonsai

Rotala robustus 'Mini' is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. CO₂ really helps it shine and grow steadily.

Rotala rotundifolia Orange Juice

Rotala 'Orange Juice'

Rotala Orange Juice brings standout color to a planted tank while staying practical to grow, making it a fun choice for aquascapes that need a bright accent. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Sagittaria subulata

Dwarf Sag

Sagittaria subulata is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Staurogyne repens

Staurogyne repens is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Utricularia graminifolia

Utricularia graminifolia is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Ranunculus inundatus

Ranunculus inundatus is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Rorippa aquatica

Water Cabbage

Rorippa aquatica is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Rotala 'Vietnam H'ra'

Rotala 'H'ra', Rotala 'Vietnam', Vietnamese Rotala, Rotala sp. 'Vietnam', Rotala sp. 'H'ra', Rotala rotundifolia 'Vietnam H'ra', Rotala rotundifolia 'Vietnam', Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra'

The vivid, crimson-red Rotala 'Vietnam H'ra' is both spectacular and surprisingly undemanding; a great reason to get CO2!

Rotala macrandra

Rotala macrandra brings standout color to a planted tank while staying practical to grow, making it a fun choice for aquascapes that need a bright accent. CO₂ really helps it shine and grow steadily.

Rotala rotundifolia

Rotala rotundifolia brings standout color to a planted tank while staying practical to grow, making it a fun choice for aquascapes that need a bright accent. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Rotala wallichii

Pine Tree Rotala, Red Rotala

Rotala wallichii brings standout color to a planted tank while staying practical to grow, making it a fun choice for aquascapes that need a bright accent. CO₂ really helps it shine and grow steadily.

Spirodela polyrhiza

Giant Duckweed

Spirodela polyrhiza is a classic, adaptable plant that’s easy to fit into many setups, offering reliable growth and a clean, natural look. It adapts well with or without CO₂.

Tonina fluviatilis

Tonina fluviatilis is a rewarding aquarium plant with distinct character and plenty of aquascaping potential—great for hobbyists who want something a little different. CO₂ really helps it shine and grow steadily.