Aquarium stem plants
Stem plants for the aquarium: plants that grow upward along a stem and are propagated by cutting the top and replanting it. Compare them on light, CO₂, growth rate and color.
- Plants
- 39
- Height
- 0–20 in (1–51 cm)
- Water temperature
- 64–82 °F (18–28 °C)
- Type
-
39 Stem plant
All 39 aquarium stem plants
How to choose
-
Plant stems in groups of several cuttings; a single stem rarely looks full.
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Fast stems need regular trimming. Replant the trimmed tops to thicken the group.
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Most red stems in the catalog are rated for medium to high light; check each plant's light and CO₂ fields.
Compare side by side
| Leaf color | Placement | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternanthera reineckii | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' | Stem plant | 3–4 in (8–10 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Foreground, Midground, Carpet | |
| Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig' | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Ammannia gracilis | Stem plant | 5–8 in (13–20 cm) | High | Difficult | Midground, Background | |
| Azolla | Stem plant | 0–1 in (1–2 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Floating | |
| Bacopa caroliniana | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Midground, Background | |
| Bacopa monnieri | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Midground, Background | |
| Brazilian pennywort | Stem plant | 5–10 in (13–25 cm) | Medium | Medium | Foreground, Midground, Floating | |
| Dwarf baby tears | Stem plant | 0–1 in (1–3 cm) | High | Difficult | Foreground, Carpet | |
| Egeria densa | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Low–medium | Easy | Midground, Background, Floating | |
| Glossostigma elatinoides | Stem plant | 1–2 in (3–5 cm) | Medium–high | Difficult | Foreground, Carpet | |
| Hornwort | Stem plant | 6–15 in (15–38 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Background, Floating | |
| Hydrocotyle tripartita 'Japan' | Stem plant | 1–4 in (3–10 cm) | Medium | Medium | Foreground, Midground, Background, Carpet | |
| Hydrocotyle verticillata | Stem plant | 5–20 in (13–51 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Foreground, Midground, Carpet | |
| Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' | Stem plant | 6–12 in (15–30 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Midground, Background | |
| Hygrophila pinnatifida | Stem plant | – | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Juncus repens | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Low–high | Easy | Foreground, Midground | |
| Limnophila aromatica | Stem plant | 8–20 in (20–51 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Lobelia cardinalis | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Foreground, Midground | |
| Ludwigia arcuata | Stem plant | 10–20 in (25–51 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Midground, Background | |
| Ludwigia ovalis | Stem plant | 4–8 in (10–20 cm) | Medium | Medium | Foreground, Midground | |
| Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red' | Stem plant | 7–19 in (18–48 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Midground, Background | |
| Ludwigia repens | Stem plant | 4–8 in (10–20 cm) | Medium | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Monte Carlo | Stem plant | 1–2 in (3–5 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Foreground, Carpet | |
| Myriophyllum mattogrossense | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Pearl weed | Stem plant | 2–6 in (5–15 cm) | Medium–high | Easy | Foreground, Midground, Background | |
| Pogostemon erectus | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Pogostemon stellatus | Stem plant | 10–20 in (25–51 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Red cabomba | Stem plant | – | High | Difficult | Midground, Background | |
| Rotala indica | Stem plant | 5–12 in (13–30 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Rotala macrandra | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | High | Difficult | Midground, Background | |
| Rotala rotundifolia | Stem plant | 4–12 in (10–30 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Rotala rotundifolia 'Blood Red' | Stem plant | 4–8 in (10–20 cm) | High | Difficult | Midground, Background | |
| Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra' | Stem plant | 4–8 in (10–20 cm) | High | Medium | Midground, Background | |
| Rotala wallichii | Stem plant | 6–12 in (15–30 cm) | High | Difficult | Midground, Background | |
| Samolus parviflorus 'Red' | Stem plant | 4–8 in (10–20 cm) | Medium–high | Medium | Midground | |
| Staurogyne repens | Stem plant | – | Medium–high | Medium | Foreground, Midground | |
| Tonina fluviatilis | Stem plant | 1–4 in (3–10 cm) | High | Difficult | Midground, Background | |
| Water wisteria | Stem plant | 8–20 in (20–51 cm) | Low–medium | Easy | Midground, Background |
Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How are stem plants propagated?
By cuttings: cut the top of a stem and plant it in the substrate. The propagation field on each plant page shows the methods its source gives.