Flowering plants are a great way to bring some life into your home. At the same time, this is an attractive way to add color and life to a fish tank.
Aquarium plants with flowers can be used in an office environment, too. Wherever they grow these plants, they will provide a sense of calm.
There are a wide variety of aquarium plants available in pet stores and online. However, not all of them will work well in your tank.
You should consider your tank size, water parameters, light conditions, and substrate to choose the best option for your aquarium. Read on to find the best flowering plants for your fish tank!
Best Aquarium Plants with Flowers
There are three basic types of aquarium plants: submerged, floating, and marginal. The type you choose doesn’t only depend on the size of your tank.
It also depends on how much light it receives, how much space is available for planting, and what kind of fish you have. You need to consider all of these things when choosing plants for your aquarium.
Whether you are looking for overwater or underwater flowering plants, look no further. You will certainly find a good fit for your tank here.
Listed below are flowering plants that are suitable for just about any aquarium:
- Anubias
- Madagascar Lace
- Bucephalandra
- Red Tiger Lotus
- Amazon Sword
- Aponogeton Ulvaceus
- Giant Hygrophila
- Green Cabomba
- Banana Plant
- Hornwort
Top 10 Flowering Aquarium Plants
1. Anubias (Anubias sp.)
Anubias plants are very popular in aquariums. It is the first choice on our list and there are a lot of good reasons for this. This hardy plant can be grown in a range of water conditions and temperatures.
In fact, Anubias is a genus of numerous species of aquatic plants found in tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Most of them live in swampy areas in nature. One of the most popular types is the Anubias barteri var. nana.
Anubias plants also thrive well in freshwater aquariums. What makes them popular with fishkeepers is that they are easy to keep and maintain. They don’t need CO2 supplementation, but it’s advisable.
Leaves and flowers
Anubias plants have nice leaves and flowers. Their leaves have a long stem with a sharp point at the end. A long stalk allows them to attach to the substrate and grow from it.
The leaves generally grow up to 30 cm (about 12 inches) in length, so regular trimming is needed to prevent them from getting too big for your aquarium. They can be green or brownish with some variegation on the margins.
The flowers are white and small. Unlike most aquarium plants, Anubias is capable of producing flowers while being totally submerged.
The flowers are produced quite often. Yet, you need to supplement your plants with decent amounts of fertilizers to promote flowering. This will also contribute to their optimum growth in your aquarium.
Key features and requirements:
- Low nutrition requirements
- Low light requirements
- Slow to moderate growth rate
- CO2 supplements are optional
- Easy care level
2. Madagascar Lace Plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis)
The next one is Madagascar Lace (also known as Lace Plant). With a network of lacy leaves and stunning tiny flowers, it’s a beautiful option worth considering.
But if you don’t have any experience with aquatic plants, then look for other options on our list. This is not to say you shouldn’t find out more about Lace Plant.
First of all, you should know that it is challenging to maintain and grow. The tuberous rhizomes of this plant are slightly hard to raise.
Madagascar Lace requires a rich substrate to thrive. It is a flowering plant that prefers lower temperatures; however, it likes warmer temperature conditions during dormancy.
Next, you should keep in mind that Madagascar Lace needs both nutritional and CO2 supplementation. If you apply a lot of carbon dioxide and fertilizers, the rhizomes will be sprouting new leaves.
What’s more, it will stimulate the production of white or purple flowers. Plants produce plenty of tiny flowers above the water surface when kept in ideal conditions. So, try to create a preferred environment for your Lace plants!
Key features and requirements:
- Moderate-high light demands
- Max height: 22+ inches
- Fertilization is needed throughout the year
- Delicate and beautiful appearance
- Moderate growth rate
3. Bucephalandra (Bucephalandra sp.)
Bucephalandra is a genus of plants that originate from Borneo, a large island in the central Malay Archipelago. It comprises more than 200 species, most of which do not grow above 10 inches (25.4 cm) in length.
Each type has a distinct appearance, size, color, and shape. In general, these flowering plants are all perfect for the foreground or background of any fish tank.
Even the color of a particular species may change and be different at each growth stage. You may find red, blue, green, brown, and other mixes. With glowing colors, your tank will stand out wherever you place it.
If you decide to grow Bucephalandra in your aquarium, remember that it propagates through a rhizome. You may divide rhizomes with scissors to get more plants.
Whether you attach your plants to the hardscape or put them in the substrate, they will grow and blossom if you provide the right conditions.
Bucephalandra can survive in various living conditions and environments. Below, you can find out what it requires to grow in aquariums.
Key features and requirements:
- Basic care and maintenance
- Low to moderate light requirements
- CO2 and fertilizers are needed for faster growth
- Ideal temperature: 73-82 °F
- pH: 6.2-7.5
4. Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri)
This flowering aquatic plant is famous for its gorgeous flowers and reddish leaves that are around 20 cm (8 inches) wide. White and blue flowers are the most common, but there are also rosy variants.
Red Tiger Lotus can reach more than 30 inches in length when fully grown. With moderate nutrition and high-light conditions, your plants will grow and flourish the healthiest.
The large star-like flowers form right beside the pads, floating along the surface of the water. Thus, they invite bees and other insects for pollination in nature.
Flowers can be produced in aquariums, too. Note that the occasional trimming is needed. If you want to grow Red Tiger Lotus in your tank, be sure to prune the plants occasionally.
This will prevent them from blocking light for other plants while promoting blossoming for weeks. By the way, untrimmed plants are more likely to wilt in aquariums.
Key features and requirements:
- Attractive flowers in different colors
- Moderate to high light requirements
- CO2 supplementation is optional
- Moderate growth rate
- Low maintenance
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5. Amazon Sword (Echinodorus grisebachii)
This fast-growing plant grows up to 18 inches in height. Beginners like Amazon Sword because it is easy to maintain and care for.
This flowering plant can grow in different aquarium conditions. It requires lots of light for fast growth.
Rooting is essential. This will make your plants develop to their fullest capacity.
Fertilization can also make a difference in growth. If you put a good substrate and fertilizers in your aquarium, your plants will grow to their full potential.
That will also increase their chances of blossoming. Amazon Sword is a species that takes quite a while to produce flowers, which is very rare.
Give your plants fertilizers on a regular basis. As a token of gratitude, they may decorate your tank with beautiful white blooms. The flowers develop on special stems above the surface of the water.
Key features and requirements:
- Remove nitrites and surplus nutrients
- Massive root system
- Leaves are subject to algae growth
- Moderate light requirements
- CO supplements are optional
6. Aponogeton Ulvaceus
We have already talked about Madagascar Lace Plant. Another popular species from this family is Aponogeton Ulvaceus.
If you are an amateur aquatic plant grower, this might be a good choice for you. This self-fertilizing plant will take care of its pollination without your help.
Still, you should give your plant good living conditions in your tank. Aponogeton Ulvaceus should be kept in a larger tank as a solitary plant because of its lush growth.
This aquatic plant will bloom in nearly any setting, providing that it has ample nutrients and adequate lighting. With moderate feeding, it will thrive successfully.
As for CO2 levels, they should be kept low. Add carbon dioxide from time to time.
Key features and requirements:
- Big light-green leaves (30-60 cm long)
- It grows in both hard and soft water
- Low to moderate nutrition and light
- Great for beginners
7. Giant Hygrophila (Hygrophila corymbosa)
Also known as Giant Hygro or Temple plant, Hygrophila corymbosa needs simple care to grow. This flowering plant can grow pretty fast, developing a purple blossom above the surface of the water.
You can make it bloom without much effort. Just provide your plants with a moderate dose of light and make sure the water is relatively warm – the temperature should be from 73 to 84° F.
This is necessary for healthy growth. CO2 injections and fertilizers can hasten the blossoming process.
Giant Hygrophila is not massive, but it grows tall. It can reach 25 inches sometimes!
After establishing in your tank, it’s going to produce velvet-colored blooms. Fish tanks with gravel are preferable to keep plants anchored as they are growing upward toward the waterline.
Key features and requirements:
- Moderate to high light demands
- Supplementation is needed for growth
- It can survive a wide pH range
- Rapid growth rate
- Warm water is preferred
8. Green Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana)
With yellow, white, or purplish flowers, this low-demanding plant is very popular with aquarists. But it is not all about the flowers. Many other features make Green Cabomba a fantastic addition to aquariums.
By outcompeting algae for nutrients, this fast-growing plant can help control their growth. It also oxygenates and aerates water in fish tanks while removing harmful substances like nitrates or ammonia.
There are some cons, too. Green Cabomba requires strong water flow and a lot of fertilization to grow. To make your plant grow perfectly, inject it with carbon dioxide and add liquid fertilizers regularly.
Due to the stem structure, it is tricky to plant. Propagation is done by stem cuttings.
Without appropriate care, Green Cabomba will grow quickly and turn into a tank weed after being planted in the substrate. That makes it challenging to keep in aquariums.
Key features and requirements:
- Ideal for creating a jungle aquascape
- Moderate to high light conditions
- No true roots (planting by cuttings)
- It can float or be planted in the substrate
- Fast growth rate
9. Banana Plant (Nymphoides aquatica)
Nymphoides aquatica is a fascinating species that you may grow with other foreground plants in your tank. With long stems, wide leaves, and white blooms, it is a wonderful addition to any aquarium.
By floating on the water surface, the adorable tiny flowers will make your aquarium more appealing. The tubers of this plant are shaped like bananas. So, if you’ve wondered why it is called Banana Plant, now you know the reason.
You may also want to know how to grow this flowering plant. Well, planting is very easy. There are two options, such as:
- You may float the plants in your aquarium and they will put down their roots into the substrate.
- The tubers can be submerged partially in the substrate and they will root there.
In any case, you need to add some fertilizers if the substrate is nutrient-poor. But if you have nutrient-rich substrate, no extras are required. Your plants will thrive even without it.
Key features and requirements:
- Moderate light requirements
- CO2 supplementation is recommended
- Plants can root themselves into the substrate
- Fertilization depends on the substrate
10. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
We will wrap up our list of flowering aquarium plants with Hornwort. It is one of those plants that do well in low light and grow quickly.
Hornwort can grow in moderate light conditions and it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Care in fish tanks is quite easy. That makes it an excellent option for beginners or new tank owners.
This versatile and adaptive plant is an amazing addition to just about any fish tank. However, bear in mind that it can reach over 100 inches in height, so make sure there’s enough space in your aquarium and trim it regularly.
You can either plant it in your substrate or let it float freely on the surface of your tank. When it comes to propagation, all you need to do is cut stems into pieces and plant them. It’s so simple!
Key features and requirements:
- Neither fertilization nor substrate is necessary
- Hornwort can improve water quality
- Easy to grow and maintain
- It is hardy and adaptive
- Rapid growth rate
Related:
- Best Carpet Plants for Aquarium
- Best Aquarium Plants for a Sandy Substrate
- Best Aquarium Plants That Grow Tall
Conclusion
Aquarium plants that flower are great for the decoration of fish tanks. But they are much more than a decorative element.
Flowering aquarium plants also serve as a natural filter for the water, removing toxins and other impurities. Some plants also provide additional food for fish.
Nevertheless, some people are hesitant to use them because they worry about their maintenance. Many aquarium plants require very little maintenance and care. Give them proper care and they will reward you with magnificent flowers!