What Kind of Plants Live in Aquatic Systems?

Plants that primary live in water are known as aquatic plants. Many different types of aquatic plants exist, each with a different function and appearance. Live plants are necessary to keep a fish ecosystem healthy.

  1. Floating Plants

    • Floating plants are easy to care for, multiply quickly, and prefer slow-moving water with plenty of sunshine. Water hyacinth, duckweed, water lettuce, Carolina fairy moss and golden club are types of floating aquatic plants.

    Submerged/Oxygenating Plants

    • These plants are submerged, typically used in ponds or cold water tanks to release oxygen into the water. Depending on the plant, they can thrive in sunlight, shade or both, and thrive in relatively calm water. Hornwort, common bladderwort and willow moss are all submerged plants.

    Substrate Plants

    • These plants are used in tropical tanks to remove toxins, and prefer warm water between 64-86 degrees F depending on the plant. Java moss, java fern, red ludwigia, orchid lily and dwarf hygrophila are substrate plants.

    Lotuses and Water Lilies

    • These plants root in the substrate and grow lilly pads to the surface of the water that produce beautiful blooms. Water lilies are great at absorbing nitrates out of the water to keep fish healthy, can survive in cold water, and they do not require much care.

    Marginal Plants

    • These plants are ornamental, usually placed at the edge of a pond with the roots submerged, such as Chinese rhubarb, arrowhead, skunk cabbage and common cattail. They do not serve much function besides decoration and provide a place for young fish to hide.