The freshwater aquarium plants that you decorate with should be those native to the fish’s original habitat. This is true even though your individual probably has never “seen” or experienced his native habitat first hand.
For your freshwater aquarium there are five basic types of plants that you can use.

First of all there are the kinds of plants grown from bulbs. Rather large plants are produced from these bulbs so they are only really suitable for large freshwater aquariums. These plants, such as the water lily and the aponogeton, are much better suited to outdoor settings, especially koi ponds.

You might want to include plants that float depending upon the fish you select. Floating plants make a great place for the young fry which need to shield themselves for protective purposes. Examples of these are Riccia and Fairy Moss.

Rhizomes are a group of live plants that you might also consider. This plant has a thick, horizontal stem with leaves sprouting on the top. This plant has roots growing down at the bottom of the stem. ‘Runners’ are produced across the surface of the substrate. As it spreads, it grows new sections of leaf and root.  Two common variation of Rhizomes are the Anubias and the African Fern. It’s easy enough to plant these. Just ties them to driftwood that you probably already have in your aquarium.

You are probably familiar with a crown like plant which has leaves growing above and roote below. It is called a rosette. They cover the water by sending out runners and growing new plants as they go. It is often the case that these plants which include Saggitaria and the Amazon Sword also produce lovely flowers.

A plant with leaves growing from the nodes of a single stem is called a stem! The lower end of the plant is well rooted into the substrate. The leaves come in several varieties, including single, paired or even multiple.

An excellent beginners plant is the very common Java Moss also known as Java Fern. It is a really tough plant that does well in all kinds of water conditions.

Another plant that’s perfect for your first aquarium is the Water Wisteria. Like the Java Fern, this plant grows quickly. It’ll also help to keep the algae content in the tank low. But be careful, it has the ability to use up many of the nutrients from the water.

You’ll want to check out another hearty plant, the Anubias Nana. Place it anywhere and this remarkable plant will invariably thrive. It flowers in the water and is very pretty. And fish don’t seem to like eating it. For the Anubia Nana to truly do well, though, you’ll want to attach this plant to a tree root or a stone.

Lillaeopsis which looks a bit like grass is another good choice particularly if your tank suffers from strong sunlight.

If you’re truly ambitious at trying your hand at plants, consider purchasing the Cryptocoryne Beckettii. This is an amphibious plant because it can exist under water and on land. It does remarkably well underwater and it has the added advantage of being available in a variety of gorgeous colors.

Then there’s the Amazon Sword – technical name is the Echinodorus Bleheri, if you’re interested. You have probably heard of it because it is the most popular aquarium plant of all time. It is a forgiving plant and so ideal for beginners. It grows fast and it’s great because it helps to control the algae content of your tank as well.

Live plants can add another, more enjoyable dimension to your fresh water aquarium. The extra time and care that they need is invariably worth it. The best approach is to start slowly with a few freshwater aquarium plants and then gradually increase the number of varieties as you gain in experience. A well planted tank will make your fish feel completely at home and will give you the greatest of satisfaction!