Best Low-Light Aquarium Plants

Not every tank has room for a high-output light and a CO2 setup, and that's fine — plenty of great plants thrive under standard, low-to-moderate lighting. Here's where to start if you want a lush tank without upgrading your equipment.

Java Fern

Java Fern is about as low-light-tolerant as it gets. It's an epiphyte, so its rhizome should be tied to driftwood or rock rather than buried in substrate. It grows slowly under low light, which for many hobbyists is actually a feature — less trimming, less maintenance.

Cryptocoryne Wendtii

Crypts are some of the most forgiving low-light plants in the hobby, tolerating a wide range of water conditions and lighting. Cryptocoryne wendtii comes in green, brown, and red-toned varieties, so you can add color variation to a low-light foreground or midground without needing extra light to bring the color out.

Anubias

Like Java Fern, Anubias is an epiphyte that does best tied to hardscape rather than planted in substrate, and it tolerates low light better than almost any other genus in the hobby. Its thick, dark green leaves also resist algae better than thinner-leaved plants when light is inconsistent.

Bacopa and Hornwort

For a stem plant option, Bacopa Monnieri holds up reasonably well under low light, just growing more slowly and openly than it would under stronger light. Hornwort is another low-light option that works either floating or loosely planted, and its fast growth makes it a good nutrient export plant even without much light. See our Bacopa Care Guide and Hornwort Care Guide for full details.

A Good Starting Point

Java Fern is the easiest low-light plant to start with — tie it to driftwood or rock, and it will grow steadily under whatever light your tank already has.

Keep Reading

• The Bacopa Care Guide
• The Hornwort (Ceratophyllum) Care Guide