Pogostemon plants in general are great for filling out large areas of your tank, as well as providing cover for shy fish and babies. This unique plant has the nickname “octopus” because each node on its stem produces four, bright green leaves that look like wispy tendrils flowing in the water. For more information, read our full care guide on val. If you’re looking for a thicker, taller version to put in your pond or large aquarium, consider using jungle val or Vallisneria americana. As one of the tallest plants on our list, we’ve successfully used it to break up line of sight when keeping more aggressive fish like African cichlids. Even in low to medium light, it readily sends out new shoots or runners in the substrate that can quickly fill your tank.

We often call Vallisneria spiralis the “one-plant wonder” because it can transform your fish tank into a field of tall grasses, gently waving in the current. Therefore, do not be alarmed if your newly purchased background plant looks like it’s wilting leave it in the tank and it should start producing new leaves within 2 to 4 weeks. Check out these 10 beginner-friendly background plants that grow to 12 inches (30 cm) or more.īefore we begin, remember that most of these plants are grown emersed (or above water) at the plant farms, so when you bring them into your aquarium, their original leaves may melt away since the plants must grow new leaves that are used to being submersed (or underwater). One of the easiest ways to make your fish tank look less like a glass box and more like a slice of nature is to cover the back wall with a lush forest of tall aquarium plants.

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