Imported Tropical Aquarium Plants

Aquatic Ferns

• Ferns differ from other leafy plants because they reproduce by creating spores. Some aquatic ferns thrive when completely submerged in water, while others tend to want to root under water, but grow leaves that surface. Popular aquatic ferns include: Java ferns, Water sprites and water clover. Java ferns need thrive when rooted onto a piece of driftwood or a rock at the bottom of the aquarium. Water sprites and water clover ferns do well in a medium to fairly course rooting substrate, either at the base of the aquarium or in a pot. Java ferns come in a variety of colors and sizes, but they look like a typical fern. Water sprites are tiny ferns that originate in Asia. Water clover looks like a four-leaf clover with a long stem that pushes the leaves towards the water surface. Several species of water clover originate in Asia and Australia.

Sword Plants

• The many species and varieties of sword plants give hobbyists a large selection of colors and leaf types. Sword plants belong to the genus Echinodorus, and they originate from many places around the world. The Amazon sword plant, a common aquarium species, originates in South America. Sword plants prefer to root in the bottom substrate of freshwater aquariums, and some species will need considerable room to grow, because they can become quite tall and large. They also produce runners with small plants that can self root, which can cause the aquarium to become overtaken by them.

Hygrophila Species

• Hundreds of wild species of Hygrophila grow around the world, and a number of these wild species sometimes become aquarium plants, but most aquarium Hygrophila come from nursery breed varieties. Hygrophila species originate in India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Mexico and South America. They grow rooted in the bottom substrate of aquariums, and they tend to multiply quickly because the cut stems will produce voluntary roots at leaf nodes. Though they are flowering plants, the aquarium grown species are known for their leaf shapes and colors.

Vallisneria Species

• The genus Vallisneria consists of aquatic grass-like flowering plants. They grow from crowns rooted in the bottom substrate of the aquarium, and they produce long blade-like leaves that can be straight or spiraled, wide or narrow, green or red. Vallisneria species adapt well to various light conditions, but the same species can have different physical characteristics in different environments. Vallisneria can reproduce asexually by runners. They have separate male and female flowers that utilize water movement for pollination, and can flower and produce seed in an aquarium environment.