So you bought a new fish tank and now you want to decorate it well for your fish. So why not decorate it with some flowering aquarium plants? I mean plants that have beautiful flowers underwater and overwater. So there is no need for you to search for it. Because today I am telling you some such flowering plants. That makes your fish tank very beautiful and quite attractive.
Here is the list ⬇️
Contents
10 Flowering Aquarium Plants
Flowering plants for aquariums are a great way to beautify your tank and make it more attractive. There are many such plants that have flowers underwater and over water, making the atmosphere of the tank very beautiful.
These are also blooming aquarium plants that will make your tank look bloom all day and give pleasure to the viewers.
Here is the list of the 10 best flowering aquarium plants that will make your tank look attractive:
- Anubias Plant
- Amazon Sword Plant
- Giant Hygrophila
- Bucephalandra
- Red Tiger Lotus
- Madagascar Lace
- Dwarf Sagittaria
- Green Cabomba
- Water Lilies
- Hornwort
Anubias
Anubias is a genus of both aquatic and semi-aquatic flowering plants. They belong to the Araceae family. Comes from tropical central and western parts of Africa. They prefer to grow in rivers, streams and are found in marshes in a wide range. Having a broad look, thick, dark leaves, and can be found in many different forms.
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Anubias is most preferred to use in aquariums when compared to other flowering aquarium plants.
Anubias plant prefers subdued lighting, and they can also produce flowers underwater. It is better to place them in the shaded area under the aquarium.
Else, they develop algae on the leaves. Anubias are the easiest flowering aquarium plants since their light and nutrient requirements are very low. Anubias life-steams can grow up to 80-83 cm. Their leaves grow up to 40 cm long and 14 cm broad.
Genus | Anubias |
Tribe | Anubiadeae |
Family | Araceae |
Sub Family | Aroideae |
Order | Alismatales |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Suitable Light Requirement | 1.8 to 3 Watts per gallon |
Best Placement | Middle to back |
Growth Rate | One leaf every 2 months |
Maximum Size | 25 – 30 cm |
Best Tank Size | 10 Gallons |
Suitable Water Condition | 22 – 28 °C |
Propagation | Cutting The Rhizome |
Substrate Requirement | Gravel, Rocks, Sand |
Fertilization Requirement | NO |
Do anubias need substrate?
Yes, Anubias plants need substrate. Anubias plants do much better when they are planted in rich nutrient substrates. Keep them attached with rocks in your aquarium or too porous rocks and soil will do a great job as a substrate for the Anubias plant.
How fast does anubias grow?
Anubias plant takes at least 5-6 months to grow completely. Anubias plants grow mostly on smooth surfaces and it takes a long time. It grows about 7-8 inches in size completely.
Can anubias float?
Yes, the Anubias plant floats easily in the tank. Anubias plants can float on water for months at a time and they also grow fine. These plant doesn’t require attention and they can be easily grown in the tank attached to your aquarium rocks or decoration.
How tall does anubias grow?
Anubias plant grows about 7-8 inches long i.e 20-25 cm. Anubias plant grows best when placed in a shady spot. It minimizes the growth of algae on the leaves.
How many hours of light do anubias need?
It is best to give at least 8-9 hours of light to the Anubias plant and 1-2 wattage per gallon. Anubias plants are hardy plants they only need low light. They grow best when kept in a shady spot in the aquarium. Light more than 8-9 hours will lead them to algae prone.
Anubias Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Also, read this article: 7 Red aquarium plants that will make your tank look attractive!
Amazon Sword
Genus | Echinodorus |
Family | Alismataceae |
Order | Alismatales |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Suitable Light Requirement | 10 Hours bright light each day |
Best Placement | Above the substrate, Front |
Growth Rate | 18 to 20 inches, or more |
Maximum Size | 20 Inches |
Best Tank Size | 20 to 30 gallons |
Suitable Water Condition | pH should range between 6.5-7.5 |
Propagation | Shooting a single long stem with a runner |
Substrate Requirement | Nutrient-rich soil |
Fertilization Requirement | YES |
Can you plant an Amazon sword in gravel?
Yes, you can plant Amazon Sword in the gravel. They are resilient, and they do well when planted in the aquarium gravel. Make sure that you put the root tab under since they are heavy root feeders, and most importantly, they tend to float on the water coming out of the gravel. Keep the crown out of the substrate and visible to the eyes.
Here is the right guide to plant Amazon Sword Plant in the aquarium.
Can Amazon sword float?
No, Amazon Sword can’t float. Yes, they can swim but not for long because that can be the reason for your Amazon Sword dying. They are substrate plants, and they needed to attach to the gravel. Keeping their roots under the stone and the crown out will be okay. Although you need or want your Amazon Sword to float, you may need fertilizer heavily in the water so your amazon sword can swim and get enough nutrients.
How long does the Amazon sword take to grow?
Well, the answer is surprising. It takes approximately three days to grow 8-10” of leaves of the Amazon Sword plant. Honestly, we have never seen any aquarium plant grow so fast.
Here are all the requirements you need to grow Amazon Sword Perfectly.
How much light does an Amazon sword need?
Amazon Sword plants need at least 2 watts per gallon of light to grow as a perfect aquarium plant, i.e., 5000-7000K. It is best to keep the temp of the aquarium between 72-82 Degree Fahrenheit. Amazon Sword Plant produces under low light. Keep the aquarium water’s pH between 6.5 -7.5. Please give them the required lights 10-12 hours per day.
Can Amazon swords grow in low light?
Yes, the Amazon sword can grow in Low light. They can grow in both low lights and medium lights. The change of the color on their leaves will depend on the amount of light you keep them per day. It is best to keep them 10-12 hours per day in low light.
Is Amazon sword good for Betta?
Yes, Amazon Sword Plants are suitable for Betta. The broad leaves of these plants make it a favorite for Betta fishes. If you want to keep them together in the same tank, make sure you have a big fish tank. They will do great in a starter 10-gallon fish tank. Amazon sword is better suited for betta fishes, and they grow in size longer and broad.
Amazon Sword Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Also, read this article: 13 Best aquarium plants that grow on rocks
Giant Hygrophila
Genus | Hygrophila |
Family | Acanthaceae |
Order | Lamiales |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Suitable Light Requirement | Moderate to intense lighting |
Best Placement | Midground |
Growth Rate | 3-5 Inches every week |
Maximum Size | Up to 24 Inches |
Best Tank Size | Medium to large tank size |
Suitable Water Condition | pH range of between 6.3 and 7.5 |
Propagation | Pinch off a segment and plant it in the substrate |
Substrate Requirement | Gravel, Sand, or Aquarium soil |
Fertilization Requirement | NO |
How do you care for Hygrophila?
Hygrophila plants don’t need much attention when coming to care. They are low-maintenance aquarium plants and can also overgrow in the most basic aquarium. Overall there care level is EASY.
Does Hygrophila need co2?
No, the Hygrophila plant doesn’t need CO2. But It is important to add some minerals to the water, and adding this can also help the plants grow well. It is better to keep an extra pair of plants with Hygrophila in the same tank.
How fast does Hygrophila grow?
Well, the growth rate of Hygrophila is relatively speedy compared to other aquarium plants. The height of these plants grows up to 15-30cm in the tank after two months of keeping. The shoot of the plant becomes 25-40cm and 4-8cm broad.
Can Hygrophila grow out of water?
Yes, the Hygrophila plant can grow out of water. Hygrophila plants grow quite very well outside the water. They grow at least 6’’ long out of the water, and they are not taken care of. They are hardy plants that can produce both inland and water.
Hygrophila Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Also, read this next: 9 Aquarium plants that are easy to grow in gravel. You will love them!
Bucephalandra
Bucephalandra is a genus of flowering aquatic plants. The name, which means “bullhead,” refers to the shape of the flowers.
They are found in tropical and subtropical regions, where they grow submerged or emersed at the water’s edge. Bucephalandra can be grown both indoors and outdoors with proper care.
These plants belong to the family Araceae and order Alismatales. They prefer low-light conditions but require CO2 supplementation for the best growth rates.
Bucepphalandra flower underwater even when they’re not attached to driftwood!
Genus | Bucephalandra |
Tribe | Schismatoglottideae |
Family | Araceae |
Sub Family | Aroideae |
Order | Alismatales |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Suitable Light Requirement | Very low light requirement plant |
Best Placement | Attached to driftwood or rocks, Front |
Growth Rate | 1 leaf every 3 weeks |
Maximum Size | 10 inches (25 cm) |
Best Tank Size | Minimum 5 gallons |
Suitable Water Condition | Between 21.5 °C – 28 °C |
Propagation | Themselves along the rhizome |
Substrate Requirement | Attach to Rocks, Driftwood |
Fertilization Requirement | YES |
Why is Bucephalandra so expensive?
Bucephalandra is expensive because They are imported from various states and countries. Since Bucephalandra’s growth rate is very slow. This tends to be low in supplies and hence Bucephalandra is expensive.
How do you grow Bucephalandra?
To grow Bucephalandra perfectly in your tank. You will need rocks, driftwood, or you can have a large-grained substrate type except for soil. Bucephalandra uses a strong root system to grow. They don’t adapt to the soil so it’s better to avoid that.
Can Bucephalandra grow emersed?
Yes, Bucephalandra can grow emersed. They are both underwater and above water aquarium plants. Make sure you have a good substrate for your Bucephalandra. Avoid soil and use rocks, driftwood type of substrate for better growth.
Bucephalandra Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Also, read this article: 15 Best aquarium plants that don’t need fertilizer! Easy to maintain!
Red Tiger Lotus
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Does Red Tiger Lotus need co2?
Red Tiger Lotus doesn’t require Co2. Red Tiger Lotus plants are easy to maintain, and they don’t need much attention like any other aquarium plants. You will be surprised to know they don’t require too many nutrients, and they also don’t require any great lightning. A bit of low light will work great for them.
How do you prune a Red Tiger Lotus?
Here’s how you can trim your Red Tiger Lotus. First of all, leave the bulb completely exposed so a lot of leaves will grow to be very tall and reach the top of the surface of the tank. Just trim the leaves off that are close to the base by the bulb. And avoid cutting the leaves more because the more you trim, the more they will grow.
Can you grow lotus in an aquarium?
Yes, you can grow Lotus in an aquarium. But one thing you need to take care of is will need a big 50-60 gallon fish tank because the growth rate of lotus plants is speedy. And grow very wide in length, and they can easily cover the entire aquarium.
Do fish eat Lotus?
Yes, fish do eat Lotus plants. They are the best aquarium plants fish like to eat. The herbs and leaves of this plant are easily digestible for small fishes. They are a good source of food for fishes in the aquarium or small pond.
Red Tiger Lotus Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Read this next: 30+ Aquarium plants that don’t need CO2!
Madagascar Lace
Madagascar Lace is a beautiful, easy to care for plant. It’s perfect for beginners and expert aquascapers alike.
It needs bright light and medium water flow, but it can grow in low light conditions with CO2 supplementation.
Madagascar lace has large leaves that are dark green on top and lighter green underneath the leaf veins.
Madagascar lace flowers bloom underwater at the base of each leaf stem which makes this plant perfect if you’re looking for something unusual to add color to your tank!
The flower petals are white and pink with a yellow center and they will be visible all year long because the flowering process occurs without any interruption from seasonality or dormancy periods!
Madagascar Lace Plant Propagation:
In order to propagate Madagascar lace plants, simply take off a leaf
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How do you care for a Madagascar lace plant?
Here are the things you need to concentrate on when taking care of the Madagascar Lace Plant. The temperature of water in the aquarium should be 65-74 Degree Fahrenheit. The light should not be low but moderate to high. The best aquarium placement for the Madagascar Lace plant is in the middle of the background. Typically the care of this plant is neither easy nor hard, It’s moderate.
Here is the complete article ‘How to take care of Madagascar Lace Plant
How does Madagascar lace grow?
Madagascar Lace grows very fast. Using a warm water resting phase will be a good option for this plant. You can use cool water in another season. This change will surely help Madagascar to grow very quickly and healthily.
Madagascar Lace Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Dwarf Sagittaria
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How tall does Dwarf Sagittaria get?
Dwarf Sagittaria grows about 3-5 inches tall. The growth rate of this plant is speedy. It commonly looks like grass. Dwarf Sagittaria stays short, and it only reaches a point of 3-5″. It is better to keep them attached with aquarium glass as it tends to find propagation along with runners.
How do I keep my Dwarf Sagittaria short?
Yes, you can keep Dwarf Sagittaria short. If you want to keep your Dwarf Sagittaria short, you need to keep the plant in the tank’s foreground by providing low plant lightning to inhibit its growth. It can also hold in the aquarium background with strong lit, but it will help the plant stay healthy and grow more.
Is Dwarf Sagittaria easy to grow?
Yes, Dwarf Sagittaria is easy to grow. Because it is a hardy water plant, and this plant can tolerate high pH value and challenging water conditions. It grows better when placed in the foreground of the tank. This plant’s growth rate is reasonable and grows up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length.
Can you trim Dwarf Sagittaria?
Yes, you can trim Dwarf Sagittaria as per your wish and according to the length of your fish tank. Just remember not to cut the plant from the bottom of the bulb. The more you cut the plant, the more it will grow.
Dwarf Sagittaria Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Green Cabomba
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How do you grow green Cabomba?
Green Cabomba is easy to grow. Firstly drop the stem on the surface of the tank. It is good to plant the stems slightly apart to give them the space they want to grow. Do not pack the substrate around the stem tightly; it may lead to breaking the stem. You need to take care of the Green Cabomba because they tend to float around the fish tank.
Does Cabomba need co2?
No, Cabomba plants generally don’t need CO2. You will see a great growth rate even without CO2 for Green Cabomba. Although there is some light requirement and these plants also need liquid fertilizers or root tabs for iron and other necessary minerals.
Is Cabomba a fully submerged plant?
Yes, Cabomba is a fully submerged aquatic plant. They are good underwater growing plants and they do grow perfectly when placed at the bottom of the fish tank.
How tall does Cabomba grow?
Cabomba grows 6-8 inches tall. The stem of these plants reaches up to 30-80 cm and each stem becomes 5-8 cm wide. They may have at least 6 or more branches of Cabomba plants.
Green Cabomba Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Water Lilies
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How do you take care of water lilies?
For good care of water lilies in the aquarium, you just need clean water. Make sure the water for this plant is not dirty. The important thing to keep in mind is that do not allow the water to fall on the leaves of this plant.
How long do water lilies take to grow?
Water lilies begin their growth after two weeks on the plantation. When they are planted it takes a span time of 2-4 weeks they will start blooming in the fish tank.
Do water lilies oxygenate the water?
No, water lilies do not oxygenate the water.
Do water lilies need full sun?
Yes, Water lilies do need sunlight. A minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight to the flower will be good for water lilies. When positioning your new Water Lily plant in the new tank, make sure it has plenty of sunshine.
Water Lilies Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Hornwort
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Can hornwort grow floating?
Yes, the Hornwort plant can grow floating in the fish tank. It’s a free-floating aquarium plant. They mainly grow in calm ponds and lakes. Since Hornwort grows floating they can be used to dim the lighting in the aquarium that will give a natural look.
Where can I find hornwort?
They widely grow in parts of New Zealand. You can also find Hornwort in most of the countries except Antarctica. It is one of the most popular flowering aquarium plants.
Do goldfish eat hornwort?
Yes, Goldfish eats Hornwort. Goldfish mostly get disturbed by the spiky leaves of the plants and they don’t even bother and eat them. Goldfish prefer to eat any plants in the fish tank. Therefore, Hornwort remains one of the best flowering aquarium plants in choices for the fish tank for Goldfishes.
Does hornwort produce oxygen?
Yes, Hornwort does produce oxygen in the fish tank. Like other aquatic plants, Hornwort also aerates the aquarium water by producing oxygen through photosynthesis. It uses up Co2 produced by the fish for this process. Additionally, it also provides areas of shelter for fishes that are looking to escape from each other or the light.
How to trim hornwort?
Hornwort can be trimmed by cutting off with a pair of sharp bypass or pruning shears. Use these same shears to remove the dead bottom leaves in late winter, just before it begins to grow when you have turned your attention to dormant garden chores. Also, trim stems with an upward slant so that they are not touching other plants near them.
Hornwort Plant: The Complete Guide To Caring and Planting |
Underwater Flowering Aquarium Plants
Aquarium Plants that flower underwater is easy to take care of. They also need a lot less attention than regular aquarium plants.
The aquarium plant is given the name underwater because they grow underwater in the aquarium water.
Underwater flowering aquarium plants can be cultivated in both salt-water and fresh-water varieties. The only difference is in the type of substrate used for either category of cultivation.
Some of the best underwater flowering aquarium plants you can keep at your home tanks are:
Hyacinth
The flowering water hyacinth has large leaves and floating flowers in a mix of colors such as blue, red, yellow, purple, and white.
This plant is easy to care for, but it does require plenty of light, so you should keep this near the top of your tank if possible.
Amazon Sword
Amazon sword plants are also great underwater flowering aquarium plants because they have bright green leaves with showy orange or pinkish blooms on tall stems throughout the year.
These plants thrive in low lighting areas, which makes them ideal for low-lit tanks altogether!
Hygrophila Corymbosa
Another beautiful flowering aquarium plant is Hygrophila corymbosa (also known as Dwarf Baby Tears). They have small round leaves with a light green color and hanging clusters of tiny flowers ranging from orange to pink.
Cryptocoryne Walkeri
Another flowering aquarium plant is the Cryptocoryne walkeri. This aquatic flowering plants have a deep purple-green with red, white, or yellow trumpet-shaped blooms on their stem at different times during the year, depending on where you live!
The above are just some flowering aquarium plants, but they’re not all!
There are many more varieties available for sale online such as water lily, water lettuce, baby tears, anubias barteri var nana petite, among others!
Aquariums can be incredible even without any fish inside them if cared for correctly, so make sure to give your home tank plenty of love and watch it flourish!
Overwater Flowering Aquarium Plants
The aquarist recommends some overwater flowering aquarium plants. They are different from flowering aquarium plants in that they are not rooted in the substrate.
Amazon sword
This tropical freshwater aquarium plant has broad, flat leaves with a distinctive pattern on its surface.
They are often used as an oxygenating and decorative element to balance out other plants inside of the fish tank.
We included this in both overwater and underwater because this is a hardy plant good for both.
Water Lilies (Nymphaea)
These aquatic flowering plants come in many different varieties, including white water lily and yellow water lily, which grow well underwater but would also work just fine outside of it if you plan to have them planted near a pond or lake where their roots can freely reach the ground below. These flowering plants produce large flowers that bloom during summertime when sunlight is at its highest intensity for ample growth opportunities.
Jungle Vallisneria
These flowering aquarium plants would work well as underwater flowering plants and also overwater.
These are a type of plant that people grow in their ponds or other bodies of water where they can freely reach the ground below.
So be careful if you plan to have them planted near your shoreline because their roots will not fare too nicely with saltwater.
Water Willow (Justicia)
These flowering plants make for great flowering aquarium plants because it does very well both inside and underwater and outside, whichever environment you may choose to put it in!
They produce large flowers during summertime when sunlight is at its highest intensity for ample growth opportunities, making this one perfect addition for your fish tank, whether indoors or out.
So, these were some overwater flowering plants we recommend to keep in your home tank and believe us- we left out a lot more flowering plants than what was mentioned here.
But these plants also give your tank a fantastic look and wild natural feel, so which flowering plants are your favorites? Let us know in the comment section below.
Green Cabomba VS Hornwort
When comparing Green Cabomba VS Hornwort plants, people often ask which is the BEST aquatic flowering plant.
Both Green Cabomba (Cabomba Aquatica) and Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) are excellent flowering plants for aquariums.
Hornwort is a tad difficult to grow in the typical aquarium environment, while Cabomba is one of the easiest and most rewarding plants available in aquarium shops.
Hornwort is a shade-loving plant that will grow to the surface and flower out, while Cabomba likes at least medium light and will grow up towards the light.
Both plants offer many benefits to an aquarium: they provide oxygen, absorb nitrates and other nutrients, aid in water conditioning
Both plants help to reduce algae growth (Cabomba is said to be better than hornwort at this), and provide hiding places for fish.
Cabomba is a popular plant for beginner aquarists to grow: it can be grown in relatively low light (compared to other plants) without lighting
Hornwort is very easy to grow in the typical aquarium environment; it will grow under lower light conditions than other plants.
These were our comparisons between these two amazing freshwater aquarium plants.
End Of The Article
The aquarium plants with flowers are the best types of plants for your home tank. These overwater and underwater types of flowerers will give you a fantastic look at your fish tank.
Whether it be indoors or out. Be sure to check out all the varieties that we mentioned in this article because there are many more than what is listed!
Which variety do you like most? Let us know below!
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