Top Aquarium Plants Under $50 for Beginners

Looking to build a budget-friendly aquascape? Not only do live aquarium plants improve the appearance of your aquarium, but they also help improve your tank's water quality. Best of all, you don't need to drop a lot of cash to get started in your plant-keeping journey.

We've compiled a list of some of our favorite and easy-to-care-for aquatic plants. Whether you're into stem plants, floaters, or rhizome-based plants, there's something out there for everyone. Read on to discover 10 of our favorite plants that will improve the look of your aquarium.

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Color Variety Plant Pack

One of the best ways to kick-start your planted aquarium is by purchasing an aquatic plant pack. These plant bundles are a great way to experiment with different aquatic plant species to see what works best in your tank. While some hobbyists prefer aquarium plants that are exclusively green in color, others may want to add a few red or orange-hued aquatic plants to create some variation in their tanks.

👉 Shop Color Variety Plant Pack - 6 Plants ($36) from GlassGrownAquatics

Low Light Plant Pack

Hobbyists new to keeping aquatic plants can't go wrong with low-light plants. These plants will survive with minimal lighting, and in many cases, natural daylight will suffice to keep these plants alive. While you won't notice explosive growth rates with these plants, they'll do a great job at keeping your ammonia and nitrite at manageable levels. 

👉 Shop Starter Pack 6 Bunches Low Light Plants ($30) from GlassGrownAquatics

Anubias Frazeri Rosette

One of the most well-known aquatic plant genus - Anubias has been an aquarium plant staple for decades. Many different types of species fall under the Anubias genus, and some are a bit more common than others. For hobbyists looking for a unique, slow-growing, and easy-to-care-for plant, look no further than Anubias Frazeri Rosette. This Anubis species has narrower leaves than some of the other Anubias species, but it's just as affordable and easy to care for.

👉 Shop Anubias Frazeri Rosette ($10) from GlassGrownAquatics

Salvinia Minima

Floating plants are some of the easiest to care for plants in the hobby, so it's no surprise to see Salvinia Minima on our list. This plant is fast-growing and does a great job at shading areas of the aquarium. The shade provided by floating plants can slow algae growth, a great perk to owning these types of plants. If you're looking for a "set it and forget it" plant, look no further than the floating Salvinia Minima.

👉 Shop Salvinia Minima ($8) from 505Aquatics

Duckweed

Another popular floating plant, known as Duckweed, is known for its lily-pad-like appearance. The species requires little to no care, as long as there is an aquarium light present, the species will grow to cover the surface of the tank. Hobbyists who may later to decide to remove the plant from their tanks will want to ensure that every piece of the plant is removed - even a small piece of a duckweed can grow to take over the surface of a tank!

👉 Shop Duckweed ($3) from Auddities

Anubias Barteri

Next up on our list is another Anubias species known as Anubias Barteri. This plant is significantly larger than the previously mentioned Anubias Frazeri Rosette and can grow to about 6 inches in height. Anubias Barteri leaves are much larger and wider than the Rosette species, but luckily for hobbyists, its care requirements are much the same! Hobbyists should have little to no issue keeping this slow-growing plant alive.

👉 Shop Anubias Barteri ($25) from Tropics of Tampa

Vallisneria Americana

One of the largest plants on this list is Vallisneria. This vertical-growing plant can grow rapidly once established. This plant can be considered a "nutrient soaker" - a great competitor to curtail algae growth. Hobbyists will want to make sure they have enough space in their tanks before purchasing this plant. When fully grown, it can easily grow to be over 2 feet tall!

👉 Shop Vallisneria Americana ($34) from Tropics of Tampa

Christmas Moss

Hobbyists looking to transform their substrate may consider carpeting plants. While some species are a bit more difficult to care for and require strong lighting and CO2 injection, others, such as Christmas Moss, are low maintenance and easy to care for.

Hobbyists may want to use a piece of fishing line to wrap the plant around an aquarium hardscape, such as driftwood or seiryu stones. Over time, the plant will grow horizontally, and eventually cover the bottom of the aquarium! While the plant does take quite a long time to grow, this species is another "set it and forget it" plant!

👉 Shop Christmas Moss ($25) from Christina Shufelt

Guppy Grass

Many freshwater fish prefer to have plenty of hiding spots throughout the tank. The aquatic plant Najas Guadalupensis, also known as Guppy Grass, is the perfect candidate! This plant has a wild growth-like appearance, providing plenty of coverage for your tank inhabitants. This plant does grow quite fast, so hobbyists will likely need to trim the plant once every few weeks to keep things under control. 

👉 Shop Guppy Grass ($40) from PK Endlers

Floating Crystalwort

Hobbyists looking for a floater plant that results in cloud-like clumps can consider Floating Crystalwort (Riccia Fluitans). This aquatic plant is known for its uniquely shaped leaves, which intertwine with each other and eventually form large clumps. The plant makes for a great nutrient soaker, and an excellent ally in the ongoing war against aquarium plant algae! Best of all, it's low maintenance and quite affordable.

👉 Shop Floating Crystalwort ($40) from PK Endlers

Conclusion

As you can see, there is no shortage of affordable aquatic plants for beginners. If you're a hobbyist on a budget, there are plenty of unique plant options available. Now that we've provided several options, which do you think you'll choose? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to visit our marketplace, where you can shop for aquarium plants directly from trustworthy hobbyists.