+1
The anubias family is quite hardy, and several of them will shoot up little blooms for you periodically as well. They will look sort of like a calla lilly. They come in different sizes and shapes, but the barteri and nana are cheap and easy to get a hold of, be it online, an auction, or even your lfs.
They say hold off a little bit because you don't want to stock your tank full right off the bat. The nitrogen cycle needs to be established in the tank. Fish waste is ammonia, which is converted to nitrites, and then converted into nitrates. Nitrates are what the plants will absorb, but the first two are still harmful to your tank if it is not well enough established to handle the large influx of fish and therefore waste that comes in with them. Planted tanks can be extremely healthy so long as you properly trim the plants, as they will soak up and use quite a decent quantity of nitrates in the tank. You will still need your water changes obviously, but plants are great for water quality. Just make sure you read up on anything you plan on putting in the tank. Some of them need phosphorus, others need iron. Healthy plants make a healthy tank. Unhealthy plants often make an unhealthy tank. Just be sure to snip off anything that yellows beyond repair, starts to become transparent, and anything that decays or starts to break apart. Planted tanks are not very difficult to keep, but you do need to make sure you keep up with pruning.
You are fine to add fish with the plants though. Just don't load up your tank to it's capacity. Just like any other system, work your way up and you will be fine.