Subnautica is filled with beautiful flora and fauna, some of which you can take back to your seabase to grow yourself. There are 36 in all, but not all of them are worth the space that they might take up. You can grow them in a Plant Pot, Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, or an Alien Containment if you want to watch them flourish under your care.
All plants provide different things — some can be eaten, and others are great for providing energy to the Bioreactor. It is important to be educated on these plants so you know what to look out for the next time you go exploring in Subnautica!
Acid Mushroom
- Seed: Acid Mushroom Spore Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
Acid Mushrooms have a variety of uses as they are used in crafting to create Batteries and make 210 energy when placed in a Bioreactor. Beware when collecting their spores as damaging them will release acid, which can harm you if you’re not careful.
Bloodvine
- Seed: Blood Oil Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
If you head to the Blood Kelp Zone then you will come across this plant, from which you can harvest Blood Oil, one of the raw materials. This product can be used to produce Benzene, or it can be placed in the Bioreactor for 420 energy.
Blue Palm
- Seed: Blue Palm Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Blue Palm can be hit with a knife to harvest Blue Palm Seeds, but this plant is fairly useless compared to others. You can place the seeds in the Bioreactor for 70 energy, although this is fairly low compared to other plant series you can grow.
Brain Coral
- Seed: Brain Coral Sample Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
This is the only coral that you can harvest using your survival knife to grow within your seabase. It is unique as it will produce air bubbles which can give you +10 oxygen each. However, besides this, you can only throw it into the Bioreactor for 70 energy.
Bulb Brush
- Seed: Bulb Brush Sample Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Bulb Brush can be found in the Bulb Zone and they look like small purple trees. When you plant them you will obtain a Pygmy Bulb Brush, as well as an edible sample that gives you +3 food and +10 water.
It will be used in the game to craft Hatching Enzymes, or you can put the samples in the Bioreactor for 420 energy.
Bulbo Tree
- Seed: Bulbo Tree Sample Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Pot Plant
The Bulbo Tree brings a bit of the life and sunshine of the surface to your seabase. You can take its seeds and put them in the Bioreactor for 420 energy, or you can eat them for +8 food and +10 water.
Cave Bush
- Seed: Cave Bush Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Cave Bush is found in several biomes such as the Jellyshroom Cave and Sea Treader’s Path. However, it is more for decoration as its seeds will only produce 70 energy in the Bioreactor.
Chinese Potato Plant
- Seed: Chinese Potato Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot
The Chinese Potato Plant yields Chinese Potatoes and there are a few things you can do with them. You can eat them if you need a quick snack as it gives you +12 food and +3 water.
It is also something that can be put into the Bioreactor as each one will give you 140 energy.
Creepvine
- Seeds: Creepvine Sample, Creepvine Seed Cluster Grown In: Underwater Exterior Gowbed, Alien Containment
The Creepvine is a tall underwater plant and you can either collect Creepvine Seed Clusters or use your knife to obtain Creepvine Samples which are needed to craft some of the basic supplies. The Creepvine Seed Clusters can be used in crafting to make Lubricant or Silicone Rubber, but they can also be placed in the Bioreactor for 70 energy.
The Creepvine Samples will give you 210 energy when placed in the Bioreactor, or they can be used in crafting to make Fiber Mesh.
Deep Shroom
- Seeds: Deep Shroom Spore Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Deep Shroom can take quite a bit of time to grow, but its uses make it worth it for some players. They also won’t damage you when grown by your hand when it comes time to harvest more spores. You can use it to craft Hydrochloric Acid, or stick it into the Bioreactor for 210 energy.
Eye Stalk
- Seed: Eye Stalk Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
It isn’t worth it to grow the Eye Stalk in your seabase as it is used for crafting Hatching Enzymes, which aren’t useful until closer to the end of the game. The seeds do provide 70 energy when put into the Bioreactor, but this is fairly low compared to some other plants.
Fern Palm
- Seed: Fern Palm Seed Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot
This plant can only be found on the Floating Island, and it is super rare for this reason. However, it serves as more of a decoration as its seeds will only give you 70 energy when put into the Bioreactor.
Furled Papyrus
- Seed: Furled Papyrus Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
You can gather the seeds from the Furled Papyrus by using your knife, although it is fairly bland and useless. It is not bioluminescent and when put into the Bioreactor it will only give you 70 energy.
Gabe’s Feather
- Seed: Gabe’s Feather Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
Gabe’s Feather is most commonly found in the Blood Kelp biome and most players choose to grow it for its beauty. When you put it into the Bioreactor it will produce 70 energy, and it cannot be eaten.
Gel Sack
- Seed: Gel Sack Spores Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
You can harvest Gel Sack Spores from a Gel Sack by using a knife, and this is commonly found on cave walls. However, the Gel Sack itself can be used in crafting to make Aerogel, or you can put it into the Bioreactor for 245 energy.
Ghost Weed
- Seed: Ghost Weed Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
When you head to the deepest parts of the seabed, which can be quite scary, then you will come across the Ghost Weed. You will use its seeds in crafting to make Hatching Enzymes, or you can throw them into the Bioreactor for 70 energy.
Grub Basket
- Seed: Grub Basket Seed Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot
The Grub Basket can only be found on the Floating Island and you can harvest its seeds by using a knife. It can only be used in the Bioreactor for 105 energy, but its bright orange color makes it great for some vibrant decor in your seabase.
Jaffa Cup
- Seed: Jaffa Cup Seed Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot
The Jaffa Cup grows pretty quickly which is why so many choose to plant them within their seabase. You can harvest their seeds and put them into the Bioreactor as they give you 140 energy.
Jellyshroom
- Seed: Jellyshroom Spore Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
You can find plenty of Jellyshrooms in the Jellyshroom Cave and you can harvest their spores by using a knife. However, be wary as Crabsnakes can hide inside of these. Make sure not to swim too close in order to collect the spores.
You can place the spores into the Bioreactor for 140 energy, so it can be quite beneficial for smaller seabases.
Lantern Tree
- Seed: Lantern Fruit Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot
The Lantern Tree produces Lantern Fruit and it can only be found on the Floating Island. It does decompose quickly which is something to keep in mind before planting it, but it will provide you with 210 energy, or it can be eaten for +10 food and +3 water.
Marblemelon Plant
- Seed: Marbelmelon Seed Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot, Plant Shelf
There are both Small Marblemelons and Marblemelons, both of which can be harvested for their seeds. You can also pick up the regular Marblemelons and eat them for +12 food and +14 water, which is why this plant is great for Survival Mode. It can also be put into the Bioreactor as it will give you 420 energy.
Membrain Tree
- Seed: Membrain Tree Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Membrain tree is most plentiful in the Grand Reef biome and it is a combination of fauna and coral. You can use your knife to gather its seeds which can then be placed into the Bioreactor for 70 energy, or it can simply be grown for decorative purposes.
Ming Plant
- Seed: Ming Plant Seed Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot
This plant is just pretty to look at, but the Ming Plant Seeds can be quite useful in the Bioreactor. It will give you 140 energy, which isn’t half bad for a plant most players tend to use for interior design.
Pink Cap
- Seed: Pink Cap Spore Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot, Plant Shelf
The Pink Cap can be found on both the Floating Island and Mountain Island, where it can be collected by hand, or you can use a knife for its spores. You can use the harvested plant for 105 energy, but its spores will also give you 14 energy.
Pygmy Fan
- Seed: Pygmy Fan Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Pygmy Fan isn’t something you really want to grow in your seabase as its seeds only give you 28 energy. If you are set on finding it to grow then your best bet is to look in the Bulb Zone and Mushroom Forest in order to collect the specimens.
Redwort
- Seed: Redwort Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Rewdwort looks like something you might buy for your fish tank at home, and that is all it will be good for in your sea base. You can use its seeds in the Bioreactor for 70 energy. However, other plants are more beneficial.
Regress Shell
- Seed: Regress Shell Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
When you head into the deeper biomes in Subnautica you will encounter the Regress Shell, which you might need a vehicle to get to. You can harvest its seeds with your knife and use them for 70 energy in your seabase.
Rouge Cradle
- Seed: Rouge Cradle Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
You will have to do some searching for the Rouge Cradle as it is often tucked away in alcoves or found on Reefback Leviathans. Its seeds can be obtained with your knife and when put in the Bioreactor they will give you 70 energy.
Sea Crown
- Seed: Sea Crown Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Sea Crown is very rare and when you come across it you should save as many seeds as you possibly can. These will be used to create the Hatching Enzymes, but they can also be put into the Bioreactor for 70 energy.
Speckled Rattler
- Seed: Speckled Rattler Spore Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot, Plant Shelf
You can pick the Speckled Rattler by hand, or use a knife in order to collect its spores. It is relatively easy to find as it is located on both islands.
Its uses are limited as it can only be thrown into a Bioreactor for 140 energy, so it really depends on what you like to grow for fuel.
Spiked Horn Grass
- Seed: Spiked Horn Grass Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The most useless plant you could ever choose to grow is the Spike Horn Grass as it has no benefits whatsoever, which doesn’t make any sense. It cannot be used as fuel for the Bioreactor and it’s not even bioluminescent which limits its decorative beauty in your seabase.
Spotted Dockleaf
- Seed: Spotted Dockleaf Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Spotted Dockleaf is quite pretty with its blue bioluminescent ends and you can find it in biomes such as the Bulb Zone and Lost River. Its seeds can be put in the Bioreactor for 70 energy if you decide you want to use it for fuel.
Tiger Plant
- Seed: Tiger Plant Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
Beware of the Tiger Plant as it will shoot spikes at anything that comes within range. You can put its seeds into the Bioreactor for 70 energy, but it’s still not worth it as these plants remain hostile even when grown in your own seabase.
Veined Nettle
- Seed: Veined Nettle Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
If you want the beautiful purple hues of the Veined Nettle in your seabase then you should head to the Safe Shallows biome. However, its seeds will only give you 21 energy, so it might not be worth the trip or the effort to plant them.
Violet Beau
- Seed: Violet Beau Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Violet Beau can be found in several biomes across the world of Subnautica in places such as the Bulb Zone, Dunes, and Lost River. It will give you 70 energy when placed into the Bioreactor and some players love to use it for this purpose.
Voxel Shrub
- Seed: Voxel Shrub Seed Grown In: Surface Exterior Growbed, Interior Growbed, Plant Pot, Plant Shelf
The Voxel Shrub was created for its beauty, and despite being one of the few surface plants, it is pretty useless. You can throw its seeds into the Bioreactor, but they give you a measly 28 energy so only use this if you are absolutely desperate.
Writhing Weed
- Seed: Writhing Weed Seed Grown In: Underwater Exterior Growbed, Alien Containment
The Writhing Weed serves a cosmetic purpose with its green and blue color scheme and is one of the reasons why this is the best underwater game. You can find it in shallow biomes and its seeds will give you 140 energy when placed inside a Bioreactor.
