Tropica is the benchmark name in aquarium plants — a Danish grower whose plants are known for arriving healthy, clean and ready to thrive. With dozens of species in the range, picking where to start can be tricky. Here are ten of our favourite Tropica plants, every one of them in stock as we write this, covering carpets, ferns, mosses and colourful stems.
Potted vs 1-2-GROW! — What's the Difference?
Tropica plants come two ways. Potted plants are grown above water in a small pot of rockwool — larger, more established, ready to plant once you remove the wool. 1-2-GROW! plants are grown in sealed lab cups (in-vitro), so they're completely free of snails, algae and pests — perfect for shrimp tanks and for carpets, where you get lots of small plantlets to spread out. Both are excellent; it just depends on the look and the species.
Our Top 10 Tropica Plants
1. Eleocharis pusilla 'Mini' (Dwarf Hairgrass)
The classic grassy foreground carpet. Spreads by runners into a lush green lawn under decent light. Buy as 1-2-GROW! — £7.99.
2. Micranthemum 'Cuba' (HC)
The famous tight, low carpet beloved in aquascaping. Wants good light and CO₂, but nothing carpets quite like it. Buy as 1-2-GROW! — £7.99.
3. Staurogyne repens
A hardy, bushy low-grower for the foreground and midground — far more forgiving than HC and a great first carpet. Buy as 1-2-GROW! — £7.99.
4. Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' (Java Fern)
A Java fern with finely branched, lacy tips. Attaches to wood and rock, needs no special substrate, and tolerates low light. Bulletproof. Buy potted — £8.99.
5. Microsorum pteropus 'Trident' (Java Fern)
A more unusual Java fern with narrow, multi-lobed leaves. Same easy, no-CO₂, low-light care as the standard fern. Buy potted — £8.99.
6. Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia
Tough, broad-leaved and almost impossible to kill. Tie it to hardscape — never bury the rhizome — and it'll sit happily in low light for years. Buy potted — £8.99.
7. Cryptocoryne parva
The smallest of the crypts and a brilliant easy foreground for low-tech tanks. Slow but steady, and undemanding once settled. Buy potted — £8.99.
8. Taxiphyllum barbieri (Java Moss)
The go-to aquarium moss. Attaches to anything, grows in almost any conditions, and gives shrimp the cover they love. Buy potted — £8.99.
9. Rotala indica 'Bonsai'
A compact stem plant that stays low and bushy, turning reddish in bright light. Great for adding texture to the midground. Buy as 1-2-GROW! — £7.99.
10. Lobelia cardinalis
Bright green, rounded leaves on a sturdy stem — an easy splash of colour and shape that suits low-tech and high-tech tanks alike. Buy potted — £7.99.
From Aqua Essentials
We're an official UK stockist of Tropica plants, shipped fresh with care. Browse the full live range and have them delivered anywhere in the UK.
Shop All Tropica Plants →Don't Forget the Substrate
Most of these plants will grow far better in a nutrient-rich planted substrate. Tropica's own Plant Growth Substrate (from £5.99) is a popular complete soil that feeds roots from below — a simple way to give new plants the best start.
Common Questions
Where can I buy Tropica plants in the UK? Right here — we're a UK stockist and ship Tropica plants fresh across the country. You can browse the full in-stock range in our Tropica plants collection.
What are Tropica "Easy" plants? Tropica rates every plant Easy, Medium or Advanced. "Easy" plants — like Java fern, Anubias and Cryptocoryne parva — need no CO₂, tolerate lower light, and are the best place to start if you're new to live plants.
What is Tropica substrate? Tropica Plant Growth Substrate is a complete, nutrient-rich aquarium soil that sits under your tank's base layer and feeds plant roots directly. It's one of the easiest ways to support healthy growth without dosing heavily from day one.
What are the best aquarium plants for beginners? Stick to low-light, no-CO₂ species: Java fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne parva, Java moss and Staurogyne repens are all forgiving, widely available, and hard to go wrong with.
