I just recently moved to Kentucky from eastern side of Washington State and I have pulled many plants from creeks etc and yes they do grow well. The hard part is trying to figure out just what it is that you find. Some wild plants don't look exactly like the same aquarium plants. I have one that I still haven't been able to find what it is. I have also caught wild little fish. I have one now that I think might be a Masqueto (spell) fish and another that I can't find what it is anywhere.