However, many of the plants that are currently grown in aquaria are far more difficult to maintain than those grown in outdoor ponds or aquariums.
So, you need an easier option.
Therefore, here’s my list of 16 fastest-growing aquarium plants for your home aquarium.
With its broad, green leaves and ability to spread across the surface of a water tank, Amazon Frogbit is an excellent choice for those looking to add a touch of class to their aquarium.
It resembles the Lily Pad in just about every way, except it doesn’t require the high maintenance care associated with true lilies.
The plant can grow close to two inches in height, and it will spread rapidly across the top of your aquarium.
This can be a great aesthetic choice for large tanks, but it may not be suitable for smaller tanks because the plant roots can pose a danger to smaller fish species that hide in them.
Long-bodied fish are more likely to remain safe from this danger.
One of the most common issues people have with this plant is the algae growth on its leaves.
To avoid this problem, increase the amount of sunlight or artificial LED light you provide for the plant.
This will encourage it to produce more oxygen and inhibit algae growth.
Amazon Sword
Growth Rate: Fast
Placement: Midground to Background
Propagation: Runners or Cuttings
Light Demand: Low to Medium
CO2 Demand: Low
The Amazon sword plant (Echinodorus amazonicus) has several other names, such as broad-leaved sword plant and burhead.
It is a species of flowering herb from the Alismataceae family, which is native to South America. The plant can grow up to 24 inches tall.
Unlike most plants, this species grows its leaves on a stem that protrudes from the soil—the stem measures 6 inches tall and 2 inches wide.
This plant produces white or pink flowers during the late spring with three petals each.
The flowers develop into round fruits with greenish-brown seeds inside them.
These fruits are borne on the stems after flowering, and they ripen during fall or early winter.
American Waterweed
American waterweed is one of the most popular aquariums due to its ease of growth and attractive appearance.
It’s available in several varieties that range from small, narrow-leaved plants to large, broad-leaved plants.
Not only is this plant great for its aesthetic value, but it also provides several benefits for your aquarium.
It’s an excellent oxygenator, helping to keep the water quality in your fish tank at a high level.
Because it multiplies, it’s also a good choice if you try to reduce algae growth by out-competing it for nutrients.
However, this plant can be pretty aggressive and take over your aquarium if you let it, so regular trimming is recommended.
This plant is hardy and easy to grow, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
Anacharis
If you’re trying to keep the appearance of your aquarium clean, then you’ll want to consider adding Anacharis to the tank.
This is because it tends to grow quite quickly, so if you have some fish that enjoy snacking on plants, you can rest assured that they’ll be happy and well-fed with this plant in the tank.
This plant grows best in water with a pH level between 5.0 – 7.5 and a temperature range between 50 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
It can tolerate a wide range of conditions, but its growth will be optimal at those levels.
It needs moderate light levels and will thrive with extra carbon dioxide added to the water.
Aponogeton Crispus
Aponogeton Crispus is a trendy aquarium plant, and there are many reasons for it.
It is easy to care for, and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters from 64 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ideal pH range for this plant is below 7.5.
This plant requires a lot of nutrients for its proper growth, so you should give it regularly.
Aponogeton Crispus is a good choice for beginners as it requires low maintenance.
Brazilian Pennywort
The Brazilian Pennywort is an excellent choice for a low-maintenance aquarium plant.
This aquatic plant has long, thin grassy leaves that grow up to 12 inches in length.
The stems of this plant are also relatively flexible and can be manipulated with ease.
Although the Brazilian Pennywort is a popular addition to many freshwater fish tanks, this plant originates from Southeast Asia.
Its natural habitat includes both brackish and freshwater environments.
As a result, the Brazilian Pennywort is often found growing along the coastlines of some of the most heavily populated cities in the world.
Bristly Water-Clover
This plant is most often confused with the more common Water Wisteria.
If you are unsure about your plant, I recommend that you prepare for the possibility of a lot of growth by planting your Bristly Water-Clover in a large pond or tank.
Bristly Water-Clover can grow between 1 and 4 inches tall.
This is a slow-growing plant, but it requires a tiny car once established.
The only time it will need any attention is to trim it back for cosmetic purposes.
This plant needs a temperature range between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, a pH between 6.0 and 8.0, and medium to high lighting (more than 1 watt per gallon) for this plant to thrive.
It should be planted in soft soil or even gravel at the bottom of your tank.
Duckweed
If you’re looking for a fast-growing plant that’s both easy to care for and aesthetically pleasing, the duckweed may be just what you’ve been searching for.
This plant is so hardy that it makes a great addition to virtually any aquarium, whether it’s freshwater or saltwater, and can serve as an excellent food source for your fish and aquatic animals.
However, one of the most valuable aspects of this plant is its ability to filter water at an unrivaled rate by other aquatic plants.
The duckweed will help keep your water clean and clear by removing excess nutrients from the water column – which in turn will reduce algae growth.
In addition to helping with nutrient control, this plant can also absorb heavy metals from your tank water, making it an excellent choice for those who have metal-sensitive fish or other aquatic animals.
The duckweed can grow up to an inch in size and is typically found floating on the surface of ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
If you have a small aquarium or pond with little space for plants at the bottom, the duckweed is an ideal choice because it doesn’t need substrate to grow.
Dwarf Sagittaria
The Dwarf Sagittaria (Sagittaria subulata) is a freshwater plant native to North America.
It’s also referred to as the Dwarf Sag, Pygmy Arrowhead, and the Pygmy Chain Sword.
This plant is ideal for beginners and advanced aquarists alike, as it can adapt well to different lighting conditions, tank sizes, and temperatures.
And thanks to its ability to reproduce quickly and easily, you don’t have to worry about your Dwarf Sagittaria becoming extinct in your aquarium.
However, if you notice your plant getting too tall or losing its shape, trim off the top, and it will grow back bushier than before.
In the wild, this plant is generally found in slow-moving streams or ponds with sandy or muddy bottoms where it can quickly spread its roots.
When grown in an optimum environment, the Dwarf Sagittaria can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall, with each stalk reaching around 2 inches (5 cm) wide.
Giant Hygro
For those of you who are just beginning your aquarium journey, this might be the perfect plant for you.
The Giant Hygro will provide a great starting point for your aquarium and will help you quickly cultivate a green environment around it.
One of the most complex parts of aquascaping is finding plants that can survive and thrive under a wide range of conditions.
Its ability to withstand high lighting levels and low will make it ideal for any newbie tank owner.
This is one of those plants that lives up to its name.
The Giant Hygro can grow up to 24 inches tall!
It’s also a very hardy plant and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, making it easy to care for even if you’re starting with your aquarium.
This makes it an excellent choice if you’re looking for something that’ll add some color without having any essential requirements such as high lighting levels or specific nutrient requirements.
Green Foxtail
The Green Foxtail is a stem plant native to Asia, Africa, and North America.
It’s known for its long and slender leaves, usually a shade of green. Some varieties can also have a bright yellow or red tint to them.
You can find this species in most pet shops, although it’s not as popular as other similar plants like the Amazon Sword.
Because it has such a fast growth rate, the Green Foxtail is often used in aquascaping layouts and aquarium displays.
It’s an upright plant that can grow up to 4 feet tall, making it great for creating an impressive background scene in your tank.
However, you should be careful when you first introduce it into your aquarium because its leaves can easily break off if they don’t get enough light or nutrients during the growing process (like most plants).
You’ll need strong lighting conditions to keep up with the Green Foxtail’s rapid growth rate – especially if you want it to stay healthy over time.
You should also make sure the substrate around your plant isn’t too compacted because this will cause water flow problems from a lack of oxygenation at its roots.
Java Moss
The Java Moss (Taxiphyllum Barbieri) is one of the most popular mosses for aquascaping, and it’s not hard to see why!
It’s super easy to care for, very low-maintenance, and will thrive in various tank conditions.
It’s also very versatile and can be used in many different ways to create some genuinely inspiring aquariums.
If you’re looking for a plant that will add texture, color, and life to your aquarium without taking up too much space or demanding too much work from you, then you should consider the Java Moss for your tank.
This java moss guide covers everything you need to know about caring for this fantastic plant and how you can use it in your aquarium.
Hornwort
If you’re looking for a plant that can grow in almost any condition, look no further than the Hornwort.
This freshwater plant is one of the hardiest on our list and can thrive in many tank conditions.
Hornwort is genuinely the perfect plant for beginners!
It doesn’t need a whole lot of light, so it’s great for hobbyists who are still experimenting with aquarium lighting systems.
And because it grows in a variety of conditions, you won’t have to worry about getting the water parameters just right.
As a bonus, Hornwort can also act as a floating plant.
So if you have some fish who like to hide away in plants or rocks, this is the perfect species to add to your aquarium since it can be propped at different levels within your tank.
PROS:
- The fast-growing plant that works well as a floating plant and substrate plant
- Immune to many common aquarium diseases and parasites like snails and algae
- Easy to maintain and care for
CONS:
- It can overgrow quickly and overtake other plants if not properly trimmed.
Marsilea Hirsuta is a freshwater aquarium plant that belongs to the Marsileaceae family.
It is also known as Water Clover and Dwarf Clover.
This plant is native to Australia, Africa, and India.
It can grow up to 1 inch in length in the wild, and its color ranges from light green to dark green.
This plant has 4 clover-like leaves, mostly held on the water’s surface.
It looks lovely in an aquarium, and due to its carpeting nature, it is kept in the foreground of the tank.
It can live either emersed or submersed, but it needs a rich nutrient substrate to maintain its carpeting results.
This plant needs a lot of it to grow and thrive.
The amount of light it gets directly affects the color it develops, with more intense lighting resulting in a darker shade.
If you are looking to add this plant to your tank, be sure to provide plenty of light for it; otherwise, you will end up with a dull-looking specimen that doesn’t stand out as much as some of its brighter counterparts.
In addition to lots of light, you also need to ensure that your water is pristine.
The Micro Sword is not just a pretty face, though – it serves an essential purpose too!
It keeps algae at bay by absorbing nutrients from the water column and preventing them from reaching the surface where algae can grow.
So if you are struggling with an algae problem in your tank, then consider adding this little beauty to help get rid of it once and for all!
If done correctly, this plant can look stunning in any size aquariums but significantly larger ones because its leaves will stretch out more than usual when grown under high-intensity light.
Many aquarists will choose to grow this plant in the background, but you can also drop it in the midground if you want.
It comes in two distinct shades, green and red Water Wisteria.
The green variant of this plant is more common, but the red one is worth a try.
You must trim this plant regularly since it tends to grow out of control, especially when planted in areas with high lighting conditions.
These are only some factors that will help you keep this plant from growing out of control!
