Best Background Plants for Your Planted Aquarium

Background plants do the quiet work of making a tank feel full. They hide equipment, give fish a sense of security, and set a backdrop that makes your midground and foreground plants stand out. Here are a handful of reliable options, from easy beginner picks to statement stems.

Vallisneria Gigantea

If you have the tank height for it, Giant Vallisneria is one of the most effortless background plants around. Its long, ribbon-like leaves sway in the current and it multiplies on its own through runners, gradually forming a dense grassy wall along the back of the tank.

Amazon Sword

A classic for a reason. Amazon Swords get large fast and their broad leaves give the tank an established, jungle-like look within weeks. For the full rundown on light, feeding, and propagation, see our Amazon Sword Care Guide.

Hygrophila (Water Wisteria and relatives)

Hygrophila stems grow fast and fill in vertical space quickly, making them a good choice when you want a background that looks lush within the first month rather than the first year. Water Wisteria in particular is nearly foolproof. Full care details are in our Hygrophila Care Guide.

Rotala Rotundifolia

For color, Rotala Rotundifolia is hard to beat. Under strong light it colors up pink to red at the tips, and it's fast-growing enough to trim into a dense hedge behind your midground plants. It needs a bit more light and nutrients than Vallisneria or Amazon Sword to really perform, but the payoff is a background with real visual punch.

A Good Starting Point

If you want an easy win, Vallisneria Gigantea is about as low-maintenance as background plants get — plant it, let it root, and it'll keep multiplying with very little input from you.

Keep Reading

• The Amazon Sword (Echinodorus) Care Guide
• The Hygrophila Care Guide