Best Live Aquarium Plants of 2025

Chloe Foster Avatar
Chloe Foster
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025

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Live aquarium plants are a natural and visually appealing addition to any fish tank. These plants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, and can provide a range of benefits to the aquatic environment. They not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the tank, but also help to stabilise the water quality by removing harmful waste and toxins, and provide shelter and food for fish and other aquatic creatures. Live aquarium plants are a great way to create a healthy and vibrant underwater ecosystem in your home or office.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

3X Java Fern Live Plants by k2aqua Cover #TOP 1
3X Java Fern Live Plants by k2aqua
ftb score rating icon 9.9
k2aqua Fresh Live Marimo Moss Balls Cover #TOP 2
k2aqua Fresh Live Marimo Moss Balls
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Live Java Fern for Your Aquarium Cover #TOP 3
Live Java Fern for Your Aquarium
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Live Aquarium Plants

3X Java Fern Live Plants by k2aqua

Green
3X Java Fern Live Plants by k2aqua Cover
3X Java Fern Live Aquarium Plants Microsorum Pteropus 3 Stem Rhizome k2aqua

The k2aqua Java Fern is a fantastic addition to any aquarium or paludarium. With a height of 8-13 cm and light green leaves measuring 1-2 cm wide, these plants enhance the aesthetic appeal of your aquatic environment. They are easy to care for, making them perfect for beginners. Originating from Asia, they offer a medium growth speed, ensuring that your aquarium remains vibrant and lively without requiring constant attention. These plants are ideal for aquascaping, allowing you to create beautiful underwater landscapes effortlessly.

What We Like
Easy to care for
Enhances aquarium aesthetics
Medium growth speed
Suitable for beginners
Great for aquascaping

k2aqua Fresh Live Marimo Moss Balls

Green
k2aqua Fresh Live Marimo Moss Balls Cover
k2aqua 5 Marimo Moss Balls, Always Fresh Live Aquarium Plant, Cladophora aegagropila

The k2aqua Marimo Moss Balls are a delightful addition to any aquarium, measuring 2-3 centimetres. These always fresh live plants thrive in both cold water and tropical environments, enhancing the beauty of your aquarium. They help prevent algae growth by absorbing harmful toxins such as nitrites and ammonia, promoting a healthier aquatic environment. Additionally, they are incredibly easy to care for, requiring no special lighting or fertilisers, making them perfect for both beginners and experienced aquarists alike.

What We Like
Always fresh and vibrant
Prevents algae growth
Easy to care for
Suitable for various aquariums
Enhances aquarium aesthetics
#TOP 3

Live Java Fern for Your Aquarium

Green
Live Java Fern for Your Aquarium Cover
Java Fern Microsorium pteropus Live Aquarium Plants Aquatic Plant Fish Tank (10)

The DK Aquatics Java Fern is a stunning live aquatic plant perfect for enhancing your aquarium. This hardy plant is dispatched from Monday to Thursday, ensuring you receive it fresh and ready to thrive. You can easily choose the quantity that suits your tank's needs, whether you want a single rooted plant or more. Adding this plant to your aquarium not only beautifies the environment but also provides shelter and breeding grounds for fish, promoting a healthy ecosystem.

What We Like
Live aquatic plant
Fresh dispatch days
Customisable quantity options
Single rooted for easy planting

2 Echinodorus Bleheri Live Aquarium Plants

Green
2 Echinodorus Bleheri Live Aquarium Plants Cover
2 x Echinodorus Bleheri Live Aquarium Plant Amazon Sword

The Echinodorus Bleheri Plants are a fantastic addition to any aquarium. These vibrant live plants grow quickly and thrive in soft to medium-hard water, making them ideal for your fish tank. You will appreciate their ability to flourish in temperatures between 22-28°C and a neutral pH of 6.0-7.5. With minimal care required, these plants are not picky about their environment and can adapt to various lighting conditions, ensuring they remain a beautiful feature in your aquarium.

What We Like
Fast growing and easy care
Suitable for most fish
Adapts to various lighting
No additional CO2 needed
Thrives in diverse water conditions
#TOP 5

Java Fern Windelov Live Aquarium Plants

Green
Java Fern Windelov Live Aquarium Plants Cover
2X Java Fern Windelov Microsorum Pteropus Windelov Live Aquarium Plants Rhizome K2AQUA

The K2AQUA Java Fern is an excellent choice for your aquarium, featuring two healthy plants that stand between 8-15 cm tall. With a beautiful light green colour, these easy-to-care-for plants are perfect for aquascaping and adding a touch of nature to your paludarium. Growing at a medium speed, they provide a lovely aesthetic while being versatile for various aquatic environments. Their manageable size makes them suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists alike, enhancing your tank's visual appeal effortlessly.

What We Like
Easy to care for
Beautiful light green colour
Suitable for beginners
Ideal for aquascaping
Medium growth speed
#TOP 6

Anubias Barteri Live Aquarium Plant by k2aqua

Green
Anubias Barteri Live Aquarium Plant by k2aqua Cover
Anubias Barteri Live Aquarium Plants Aquascaping Fish Tank Plant k2aqua

The k2aqua Anubias Barteri is a lovely live aquarium plant that thrives in moderate to low light, making it perfect for your fish tank. Its easy difficulty level means even beginners can successfully care for it. Originating from West Africa, this plant grows slowly, allowing you to enjoy its beauty without constant maintenance. At a size of 10-20cm, it is ideal for midground or background planting, adding depth and character to your aquascape.

What We Like
Easy to care for
Suitable for low light
Slow growth rate
Perfect for mid/background
#TOP 7

Live Anubias Nana Aquarium Plant by OLUNCLE

OLUNCLE
Green
Live Anubias Nana Aquarium Plant by OLUNCLE Cover
Live Aquarium Plant "Anubias nana"

The OLUNCLE Anubias Nana is a beautiful live aquarium plant that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your tank. This vibrant green plant not only adds colour but also provides a natural habitat for your aquatic creatures. Being a hardy species, it is perfect for beginners and seasoned aquarists alike, as it requires minimal maintenance. Its unique shape and texture can create a stunning visual impact in your aquarium, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to elevate their aquatic environment.

What We Like
Enhances aquarium aesthetics
Low maintenance requirements
Suitable for beginners
Provides habitat for fish

Red Tiger Lotus Bulb for Aquascaping

Red Tiger Lotus Bulb for Aquascaping Cover
Red Tiger Lotus Bulb - Nymphaea Live Aquarium Plant Tropical Lily Fry Betta Water

The Red Tiger Lotus Bulb is an excellent choice for aquarium enthusiasts. This easy-to-care-for plant features a bulb size of 1-2cm, making it suitable for a variety of tank sizes. Originating from Africa, it boasts striking green and red leaves, which can change colour depending on the fertilisers you use, adding a vibrant touch to your aquascape. With a fast growth rate, you will quickly see your aquarium transformed, enhancing its beauty and providing a natural habitat for your fish.

What We Like
Easy to care for
Fast growth rate
Vibrant leaf colours
Suitable for aquascaping
Compact bulb size
#TOP 9

Anubias Barteri VAR Nana Live Aquarium Plant

Green
Anubias Barteri VAR Nana Live Aquarium Plant Cover
Anubias Barteri VAR Nana Live Aquarium Plants Aquascaping Fish Tank Plant k2aqua

The Anubias Barteri Plant is an ideal choice for your aquarium, featuring a size of 10-15 cm, making it perfect for midground or background placement. Its easy care requirement means you won't have to worry about complex maintenance, allowing you to enjoy your aquatic environment without stress. Originating from West Africa, this plant thrives in moderate to low light conditions, ensuring it can adapt to various setups. Additionally, its slow growth rate means less frequent trimming, providing a more stable aesthetic for your fish tank.

What We Like
Easy to care for
Ideal for midground and background
Thrives in low light
Slow growth rate
#TOP 10

Floratica Alternanthera Rosaefolia Live Plants

Multicolor
Floratica Alternanthera Rosaefolia Live Plants Cover
Floratica 10 x Alternanthera Rosaefolia - Rooted - Live Aquarium Aquatic Plants Fish Tank

The Floratica Live Aquarium Plants are easy to grow and will flourish with the right care, displaying beautiful dark reddish leaves. These plants grow quickly, enhancing the colour contrast in your tank's background. Each bunch contains at least ten rooted plants, ready for immediate planting. Additionally, they are free from snails and pests, providing you with a hassle-free aquatic gardening experience.

What We Like
Easy to grow
Enhances tank colour
Rooted and ready to plant
Free from pests
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are live plants good for an aquarium?

Live aquarium plants produce oxygen and absorb some of the carbon dioxide, ammonia and other harmful nitrates that your fish generate. This puts less strain on your filtration system (though should never be used to replace your filter) and helps maintain good water quality, keeping your fish happier and healthier.

2. What live plants should I put in my aquarium?

21 Most Popular Aquarium Plants. Moneywort.Hornwort.Rotala Rotundifolia.Pygmy Chain Sword ( Narrow Leaf )Hygrophilia Polysperma.Cryptocoryne Wendttii.Anubia Nana.Java Fern.

3. Are live aquarium plants hard to keep?

So, are aquarium plants hard to keep? No, aquarium plants are not hard to keep. But you do have to provide them the ideal environment i.e. you have to maintain the ideal water parameters (temperature, pH, and hardness). And you have to provide them the ideal lighting conditions and regularly feed them fertilizers.

4. How do you keep live plants in an aquarium?

The proper substrate keeps live plants anchored and provides a fertile area for root growth. Fine gravel, specially designed terracotta gravel, or sand works best for a live plant environment. Never use dirt or loam soil of any kind in a freshwater community aquarium environment.

Editor's Notes

During our live aquarium plant research, we found 226 live aquarium plant products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 13,733 customer reviews through our big data system to write the live aquarium plants list. We found that most customers choose live aquarium plants with an average price of £7.06.

The live aquarium plants are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of live aquarium plants, including k2aqua, DK Aquatics, OLUNCLE, Floratica. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 699 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.

Written by
Chloe Foster Avatar

Happy Pet Happy Owner by Chloe Foster sold over 100 thousand copies in the UK. Chloe worked as a veterinarian in The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham. She stayed for seven years before coming home to set up her pet store in Swansea. Chloe is an experienced veterinarian with a flair for literature. Chloe is vast in the knowledge of animals, animal nutrition, medication, and care.