by Andrea Watts - Growing plants successfully in an aquarium
is reliant on many factors. This article will address the
question as to the suitability of certain plants to an
aquatic environment.
When you visit your local
aquarium shop, you will find a number of plants sold as aquarium plants. In many cases, not
all of the plants on display are suitable for long term
submersion in your tank. I will endeavor to guide you
through some of the more commonly sold species and classify
them into aquatic, marginal and terrestrial plant groups.
True Aquatic Plants
This generally refers to plants which grow and thrive when
permanently submersed. I find that a good rule of thumb is
this…. anything that cannot support its weight out of the
water is a true aquatic plant . These true aquatic plants
are termed as “submerged”. However, some of these plants can
also be classed as “amphibious” ie. they are capable of
living both in and out of the water (in this case, the
emergent form will be self supporting).
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
|
Category
|
|
Alternanthera reineckii v. “Cardinalis” |
Red alternanthera |
amphibious |
|
Alternanthera reineckii v. “Rosaefolia” |
Purple alternanthera |
amphibious |
|
Alternanthera reineckii v. “Lilacina” |
Pink alternanthera |
amphibious |
|
Anubias afzeilii |
|
amphibious |
|
Anubias barteri |
|
amphibious |
|
Anubias barteri v. “Nana” |
Nana |
amphibious |
|
Anubias sp. “Congensis” |
Congensis |
amphibious |
|
Anubias x. “Emerald Heart” |
Emerald Heart |
amphibious |
|
Anubias gigantean |
Gigantea |
amphibious |
|
Anubias lanceolata |
|
amphibious |
|
Aponogeton crispus |
Crispus |
submerged |
|
Aponogeton madagascariensis |
Madagascar Lace Plant |
submerged |
|
Aponogeton natans |
|
submerged |
|
Aponogeton rigidifolius |
|
amphibious |
|
Aponogeton undulatus |
|
submerged |
|
Bacopa caroliniana |
Bacopa |
amphibious |
|
Bacopa monnieri |
Baby’s Tears |
amphibious |
|
Blyxa sp. |
Blyxa |
submerged |
|
Bolbitis heudelotii |
Bolbitis |
amphibious |
|
Cardamine lyrata |
Cardamine |
amphibious |
|
Ceratophyllum demersum |
Hornwort |
submerged |
|
Ceratopteris siliquosa |
Water Sprite |
amphibious |
|
Crassula helmsii |
Crassula |
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne affinis |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne becketti |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne costata |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne crispatula v. “Balansae
Green” |
Balansae |
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne lingua |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne lucens |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne meyi |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne nevilli |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne parva |
Parva |
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne pontederifolia |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne purpurea |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne thwaitesii |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne undulate |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne walkeri |
|
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne wendtii v. “Brown” |
Brown wendtii |
amphibious |
|
Cryptocoryne wendtii v. “Green” |
Green wendtii |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus amazonicus |
Amazon Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus augustifolia |
Chain Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus barthii |
Melon Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus bleheri |
Ruffle Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus bleheri |
Ruffle Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus cordifolius |
Radican Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus cordifolius v. “Marble” |
Variegated Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus grisebachii |
|
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus horizontalis |
|
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus kleinerber |
|
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus latifolious |
|
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus v. “Oriental” |
Oriental Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus x. “Ozelot” |
Ozelot Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus parviflorus |
Parviflorus Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus x. “Rose” |
Rose Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus x. “Rubin” |
Red Rubin Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus schlueteri v. “Leopard” |
Leopard Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus tenellus |
Chain Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus tropica |
Tropica Sword |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus uruguayensis v. “Green” |
Green Hormanii |
amphibious |
|
Echinodorus uruguayensis v. “Red” |
Red Hormanii |
amphibious |
|
Eleocharis acicularis |
Dwarf Hairgrass |
amphibious |
|
Eleocharis montevidensis |
Giant Hairgrass |
amphibious |
|
Eleochais vivipara |
Hairgrass |
amphibious |
|
Eusteralis stellata |
Stellata |
amphibious |
|
Fontinalis antipyretica |
Willow Moss |
submerged |
|
Glossostima elatinoides |
Glosso |
amphibious |
|
Heteranthera sp. |
|
submerged |
|
Hydrocotyle sp. |
Hydrocotyle |
amphibious |
|
Hydrocotyle verticillata |
Pennywort |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila sp. |
Willow Leaf |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila corymbosa x. “Stricta” |
Temple |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila corymbosa v. “Siamensis” |
Giant Hygro |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila difformis |
Wisteria |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila polysperma |
Hygro |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila polysperma v. “Variegated” |
Variegated Hygro |
amphibious |
|
Hygrophila sp. “Rubra” |
Rubra |
amphibious |
|
Lagenandra thawaitesii |
|
amphibious |
|
Lemna minor |
Duckweed |
submerged |
|
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis |
Lilaeopsis |
amphibious |
|
Limnophila sp. |
Limnophila |
amphibious |
|
Lobelia cardinalis |
Lobelia |
amphibious |
|
Ludwigia arcuata |
Arcuata |
amphibious |
|
Ludwigia natans |
Ludwigia |
amphibious |
|
Ludwigia repens x. “Palustris” |
Ludwigia |
amphibious |
|
Lymnophila sessiflora |
Ambulia |
amphibious |
|
Lysimachia nummularia |
Pennywort/Moneywort |
amphibious |
|
Lysimachia nummularia v. “Aurea” |
Gold Pennywort/Moneywort |
amphibious |
|
Micranthemum umbrossum |
Jewel Plant |
amphibious |
|
Microsorium pteropus |
Java Fern |
amphibious |
|
Microsorium pteropus v. “Windelov” |
Windelov |
amphibious |
|
Myriophyllum simulans |
Filligree Myriophyllum |
amphibious |
|
Nomophila stricta |
Stricta |
amphibious |
|
Nuphor japonica |
Spatterdock |
amphibious |
|
Nymphaea lotus v. “Red” |
Red Tiger Lotus |
amphibious |
|
Nymphoides aquatica |
Banana Plant |
amphibious |
|
Potamogeton sp. |
Potamogeton |
submerged |
|
Riccia fluitans |
Riccia |
amphibious |
|
Rotala rotundifolia |
Rotundifolia |
amphibious |
|
Rotala wallichi |
Wallichi |
amphibious |
|
Sagittaria subulata |
Narrow Leaf Sagittaria |
amphibious |
|
Vallisnera asiatica |
Narrow Leaf Vallis |
submersed |
|
Vallisnera torta |
Corkscrew Vallis |
submersed |
Marginal and Terrestrial Plants
The following are terrestrial or marginal plants which are
commonly sold at LFS as aquatics…they are ok for short term
display only.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
|
|
Acorus gramineus |
Jap Rush |
|
Acorus gramineus v. “Variegated” |
Variegated Jap Rush |
|
Aglaonema sp. |
Zebra Plant |
|
Alteranthera v. “Tri Colour” |
Yellow Ivy |
|
Calathea sp. |
Peacock Plant |
|
Chamaedorea elegans |
Baby Palm |
|
Cordyllne terminallis |
Pink Baby Doll |
|
Dracaena sp. |
Happy Plant |
|
Hemigraphis exotica |
Purple Waffle |
|
Hemigraphis repanda |
Panama Crypt |
|
Houttuynia cordata |
Lizard’s Tail |
|
Liriope muscani v. “Variegated” |
Liriope |
|
Ophipogon japonica |
Mondo Grass |
|
Peperomia sp. |
Aluminium Plant |
|
Pteris spp. |
Water Fern |
|
Spathiphyllum tasson |
Spath Lily |
|
Syngonium podophyllum v. “White
Butterfly” |
White Butterfly |
|
Syngonium podophyllum v. “Regina Red” |
Red Butterfly |
|
Viola esclenta |
Water Violet |
Hopefully these lists will help you to identify and
determine whether the plants that you have chosen are, in
fact, suitable for long term submersion in the aquarium.
Rea an alternate page about
aquarium plants
