Do you want to make your tank more exciting, but don’t feel like buying more fish? Get a fast-growing aquarium plant!
Aquarium plants can be more fun than you probably imagine. Little is more exciting than seeing a new leaf or noticing new growth. Not to mention you can freely allow your plant-eating fish to munch on them!
If you’re new to the hobby or are just interested in this particular type of plant, I’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of 21 fast-growing aquarium plants for all who’d like to see their plant thrive in no time:
1. Narrowleaf Vallisneria
Narrowleaf vallisneria is one of the few variations of the popular vallisneria plant family. This is one of the easiest plants to care for due to its hardiness and ability to adapt to various water parameters.
As this plant grows really fast, it requires lots of fertilization. Narrowleaf vallisneria requires lots of food and energy to sustain such a high growth rate.
Vallisneria is a common snack among herbivore fish. Even young fish will love eating it! Fortunately, due to its quick growth rate, this shouldn’t pose a problem. Quite the opposite – adding fish such as tiger barbs or goldfish is an excellent way of controlling its growth.
| Scientific name: | Vallisneria Nana |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Sand |
| CO2: | Advised supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
2. Dwarf Sagittaria
Dwarf sagittaria is a perfect plant for people who’d like to have a lawn in their tank. This plant looks like terrestrial grass and grows just as fast – if not even faster.
What makes this plant stand out is not just its quick growth rate, but also its unique color. If you put it under bright lights, it might appear slightly red in color!
Just like most other fast-growing plants, dwarf sagittaria requires lots of fertilization. At the same time, it’s rather picky about water parameters. As such, I wouldn’t call it a good plant for beginners.
| Scientific name: | Sagittaria subulata |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Hard |
3. Pygmy Chain Sword Plant
Formerly considered a cousin of Amazon sword, the pygmy chain sword plant actually belongs to the Helanthium genus. Many consider it a carpeting plant, but I find it to be too tall for this purpose.
Although small in size, the pygmy chain sword grows and spreads rather quickly. Its long runners will spread through the substrate, and your entire tank might quickly end swarmed with new growth!
While a pygmy chain sword can survive in moderate light conditions, if you provide it with enough light it might even become red in color!
| Scientific name: | Helanthium tenellum |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Maximum height: | 4 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
4. Amazon Frogbit
Not only is the amazon frogbit (also known as the South America sponge plant) one of the fastest-growing aquarium plants, it is also a floating plant. This means you can grow it without any substrate at all!
In general, this is one of the easiest plants to care for. It can survive in most water conditions, and as it floats on top of the water, you don’t need to care about CO2 or light needs too much.
Keep in mind that this plant can cover the entirety of the water surface rather quickly. I would advise to keep it away from fish that need to reach the air for oxygen, such as crowntail bettas.
| Scientific name: | Limnobium laevigatum |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | None |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Advised fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
5. Water Wisteria
Water wisteria is one of the most common plants in the hobby. It’s effortless to maintain, grows really fast, and is almost indestructible.
Due to its shape and growth pattern, wisteria is a great plant for animals that love to hide, such as dwarf shrimp or small fish species.
Not just that, but wisteria can grow both in the substrate and floating. No matter your tank setup, you’ll likely be able to find a way to include it! Just keep in mind that it can grow really fast, so trimming is a necessity.
| Scientific name: | Hygrophila difformis |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Sand or gravel |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplements |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
6. Hornwort
If I had to pick a single plant that is easier to care for than water wisteria, hornwort would probably be the one. This plant can survive in even the poorest conditions!
Fortunately, hornwort is one of the best oxygenating plants out there. Even if it grows rather large, it isn’t likely to suffocate other plants or animals by taking away all of their oxygen.
Just like wisteria, this plant can grow in any type of substrate, or even without it. However, it can grow really large, so you need to prune it often. If you don’t have the time to maintain your tank and plants in it, hornwort might not be for you.
| Scientific name: | Ceratophyllum demersum |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 10 feet |
| Substrate requirements: | None |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplements |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
7. Amazon Sword
Not only is Amazon sword one of the most famous aquarium plants that flower, but with proper care it can also be one of the fastest-growing plants, as well.
While this plant grows at a moderate rate, if you give it some CO2 and lots of fertilization, it will start growing like crazy!
Unfortunately, just like vallisnerias, amazon swords are tasty snacks for herbivore fish. While they will likely grow quickly enough not to get fully eaten or destroyed, their appearance will certainly be ruined, so be careful what fish you pair them with.
| Scientific name: | Echinodorus grisebachii |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
8. Green Foxtail
Green foxtail is yet another beginner-friendly plant that is easily damaged by pesky fish that don’t care about vegetation. Fortunately, it grows really fast. It isn’t a rarity to see this plant grow up to 2 inches each week!
Despite its name, green foxtail looks nothing like its terrestrial namesake. It has fine, feathery leaves that are dark green when freshly sprouted, but become brighter as they mature.
Just like most other plants from this list, green foxtail requires lots of fertilization but almost no other type of supplementation. It is one of the plants that survive without CO2 injections in most water conditions.
| Scientific name: | Haloragaceae |
| Light requirement: | Low |
| Maximum height: | 10 feet |
| Substrate requirements: | Sand, gravel |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
9. Aponogeton Crispus
While all aponogetons are easy to care for, aponogeton crispus might be the easiest one. I dare say it might even be my favorite plant from the family!
One of the reasons why I love this plant so much are tiny white to purple flowers. This plant grows overwater. Combined with the gorgeous shade of green this plant has, aponogeton crispus is truly a beautiful sight.
However, the fact that it flowers and grows rather fast means this plant requires lots of fertilization. Otherwise, its growth will be stunned, and the plant might even die.
| Scientific name: | Aponogeton crispus |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 10 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Optional CO2 supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
10. Java Moss
Almost everyone in the fish keeping hobby has heard about java moss. This versatile plant is easy to care for, doesn’t require any supplementation or fertilization, and it can even grow on rocks!
If you’ve just bought this plant, you might not see what’s the fuss about it, as it won’t seem to grow fast at first. However, as soon as the plant establishes its roots, it will start spreading like crazy!
This is a great carpeting plant if you maintain and trim it, but it will also be a gorgeous sight without any upkeep.
| Scientific name: | Vesicularia dubyana |
| Light requirement: | Low to high |
| Maximum height: | 4 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Any substrate |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
11. Bristly Water Clover
It doesn’t take more than a quick glance to realize why this plant has its name. It looks just like a four-leaf clover!
Shorter than most plants, bristly water clover is usually used as a carpeting plant. It can grow really fast, covering the entire bottom of the tank in no time.
This is a hardy plant that doesn’t need much care, but if you’d like it to reach its full growth potential, you should fertilize it with each water change. Otherwise, its growth might be stunned.
After a while, you might notice this plant’s leaves changing shape. It isn’t entirely certain why this is happening, but some of my adult plants have ended up with two leaves, or even just a single, thick leaf.
| Scientific name: | Marsilea hirsuta |
| Light requirement: | Low |
| Maximum height: | 1 inch |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate, sand |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Optional fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
12. Giant Hygrophila
While giant hygro is the largest plant from the hygrophila genus, it is far from the largest tank plant.
Giant hygro can grow up to 2 inches per week! However, due to this fast growth rate, it requires plenty of nutrition. If you’ve never cared for a plant that needs lots of fertilization, you might find caring for a giant hygro a bit tricky.
While most fish keepers keep this plant underwater, it can grow out of water, as well. If you let this happen, your giant hygro might even produce gorgeous purple flowers!
| Scientific name: | Hygrophila corymbosa |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Maximum height: | 24 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Fine gravel |
| CO2: | Requires supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
13. Rotala Rotundifolia
Rotala rotundifolia is a gentle beginner-friendly plant. It’s very easy to care for while remaining rather beautiful. There are several color varieties you can choose from, and all grow just as fast!
This plant can give your fish a jungle-like environment, as long as you keep it pruned. Rotundifolia can grow to be too bushy too fast, crowding your tank.
Just don’t throw out your rotala rotundifolia if you don’t want it in your tank anymore! The US waters don’t want it, either. It is considered an invasive plant that can severely harm the environment.
| Scientific name: | Rotala rotundifolia |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 12 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Sand or gravel |
| CO2: | Advised supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Advised fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
14. Brazilian Waterweed
Brazilian waterweed – also known as anacharis, is yet another plant that can do just as well on any substrate or floating.
Due to its quick growth rate, it can survive even the most persistent plant-nippers, such as oscars or mbunas.
While considered a beginner-friendly plant, Brazilian waterweed is picky when it comes to light requirements. If you don’t provide it with enough light, it will die rather quickly.
While Brazilian waterweed is not yet considered an invasive species, there are efforts to keep it out of the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. Compost it instead of throwing it out.
| Scientific name: | Egeria densa |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Maximum height: | 8 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Any substrate |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Advised fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
15. Brazilian Pennywort
Just like its cousin, Hydrocotyle Japan, Brazilian pennywort is a fast-growing aquarium plant that grows on driftwood, rocks, or any other type of substrate. You can even keep it as a floating plant!
As you might’ve guessed by now, this is a relaxed plant that doesn’t require almost any care. All you need to do is provide it with a bit of liquid fertilizer and it will grow incredibly fast!
If you’re into aquascaping, this is a really good mid- or background plant that can add a touch of adventure to any tank. Its round leaves are cute to look at, and most fish will avoid eating them.
| Scientific name: | Hydrocotyle leucocephala |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 8 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Any type of substrate |
| CO2: | None |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
16. Micro Sword
This plant is known by many names, such as micro sword, Brazilian micro sword, copra grass, or carpet grass. By now, you’ve probably guessed that this plant looks similar to thick terrestrial grass.
While a micro sword grows rather fast, it can be challenging to keep. It’s rather picky with water and light conditions, and you need to make sure its living conditions are just right.
It also requires lots of feeding, but doesn’t like liquid fertilizers. While CO2 injections aren’t mandatory, they can be really helpful in keeping this already pesky plant alive.
If you’ve seen pictures of micro sword carpet, I have to disappoint you: This can only be achieved by experienced aquarists who know how to provide the plant with great light conditions. Most of the time, it won’t grow as thick.
| Scientific name: | Lilaeopsis brasiliensis |
| Light requirement: | High |
| Maximum height: | 4 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Advised supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Moderate |
17. Fanwort
Also known as cabomba, fanwort is often confused with hornwort. Indeed, the two do look alike, but fanwort is a bit gentler and puffier.
While fanwort grows rather quickly, it is one of the favorite foods of most herbivorous fish. If you keep it with the wrong fish species, maybe it won’t be able to outgrow their nipping. It’s best if you keep it with carnivorous fish. For example, I’ve kept a few with my king crowntail betta.
Fanwort can also provide a great hiding spot for dwarf shrimp, such as cherry shrimp. These tiny animals won’t damage its fragile leaves.
| Scientific name: | Cabomba caroliniana |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Gravel |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Optional fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
18. Duckweed
Describing duckweed can be a bit confusing, as this isn’t a single plant but rather a subfamily of aquatic plants. There are dozens of types of duckweed out there, but most people are talking about the Lemnoideae genus.
No matter what type of duckweed we’re talking about, this plant is a bit of a nuisance in the aquatic world, mostly due to its extremely fast growth rate. Still, it is mostly kept as it helps with nutrient control.
They are also known as water lentils due to their edible properties. No, I’m not talking about fish, although they love eating it, too. All duckweed species are rather nutritious to humans, as well!
| Scientific name: | Lemnoideae |
| Light requirement: | Low to High |
| Maximum height: | ¼ of an inch |
| Substrate requirements: | None |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require CO2 supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | High |
19. Ruffled Sword
Ruffled swords are easy to recognize by their long, ruffled leaves. This plant is favored by fish keepers as its thick leaves aren’t tasty for most fish, so you can keep it with herbivorous animals.
Ruffled swords grow rather fast but require lots of fertilization. They aren’t picky about the type of food you provide them with, though, as long as it’s rich in iron.
While this is a hardy plant, it doesn’t take well to sudden changes in water parameters. Be gentle with it and never make drastic changes. Otherwise, even ruffled swords can be severely damaged or even die.
| Scientific name: | Echinodorus martii |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires supplementation |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
20. Water Weed
Elodea, also known as water weed, is one of the most effortless plants you can get. It can thrive without almost any care at all!
Not just that, but it is also one of the fastest-growing plants out there. With proper conditions, it can reach a mature stage in just a week. However, its quick growth also means it can easily overtake your entire tank, so make sure to prune it regularly.
Unlike many other plants from this list, water weed is not considered invasive. Still, its growth has to be controlled in certain areas, as it can disrupt the natural balance in an ecosystem.
| Scientific name: | Elodea |
| Light requirement: | Low to high |
| Maximum height: | 8 feet |
| Substrate requirements: | None |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
21. Red Leaf Ludwigia
Red leaf ludwigia is truly an eye-turner. This is one of those plants that you cannot look away from, and after just a quick glance at it, you’ll understand why.
While all ludwigias are truly gorgeous, red leaf ludwigia stands out for its carmine-red color. It’s a surprise that it grows as quickly as it does! Many colorful plants can be difficult to maintain, but this one proves that there is always an exception.
If its leaves weren’t enough to make you fall in love with this plant, know this: Red leaf ludwigia also has some mild sedative properties. There are ongoing researches with the goal to turn it into an anaesthetic. Time will show if they’ll be successful.
| Scientific name: | Ludwigia repens |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| Substrate requirements: | Nutrient-rich substrate |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Fertilization is advised |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
Bottom Line
Fast-growing aquarium plants are a fun addition to any tank. They are especially useful for people who keep fish species that love to eat the greens. No one likes looking into a tank with half-eaten plants!
However, there are a few challenges with aquatic plants that grow too fast that you need to keep in mind.
Most importantly, such plants require lots of trimming. If you forget about them, they might overtake your tank. This will not only lead to your fish feeling crowded, but the plants might eat all the good nutrients, as well.
Unfortunately, this might lead to the death of your fish.
If you have the time and will to provide your plants with additional care, or don’t want to keep having your aquarium decorations eaten by fish, then picking a plant with the fastest growth rate possible is the best possible choice.
You know that calming feeling of tranquility and thrill while looking at a gorgeous, perfectly functioning tank? That’s why I became an aquarist.
To make a very long story short, I’m Noah, and I’ve started this site aiming to share the most helpful advice on creating thriving habitats for fish and underwater animals.