plants in an aquarium

Question
i was wondering if there are any types of plants that you can plant in your aquarium that will grow up and out of the top of the tank. i have something in mind but i'm not sure. i currently have a 55gal tank.  what i'm tiring to do is to have it filled up about half way with water, a huge peice of driftwood that would stick out of the water. i have 3 jack dempseys and 3 plecos right now. i'm thinking about adding a red eared slider(turtle) from one of my other tanks.  

Answer
Sounds like a great idea. There are several plants that I can recommend. Keep in mind, that a red eared slider is an omnivore, and will likely eat any plants that you add to the tank. Also, your turtle will likely try to eat any fish in the tank...or at least anything that will fit in his mouth! Provided the fish don't resemble a tasty morsal there is no problem with mixing turtles with fish.
There are many species of Cryptocoryne that never reach 6inches in height. They do best with soft, slightly acidic water, although they can tolorate a wide range of values. There are several varieties of C.wendtii (green, brown, ruffled, or smooth)... there are enough varieties that you can fill a tank with plants that look like different species.
You can also keep Java fern, which will adapt to virtually any situation. It can be planted in the gravel or attached to rocks/dirftwood. It is renowned for its toughness and unpalatability. It is on the short list of plants suitible for a cichlid tank.
Hornwort would also make a good addition. It is sold as a bunch plant, it can be rooted in the soil or simply left floating (as it is observed in the wild). It will grow as fast as your turtle will eat it.
You also may want to reconsider your choise of fish. The jack dempsey's will be a bit cramped with that water quality when they near adult size. (babies will be ok in the short term) You may want to try some smaller cichlids such as African zebras (Psuedotropheus sp.), convicts, jewels, Neetroplus nematopus, firemouths (Thorichthys meeki), or kribensis (Pelvichromis pulcher). You also may want to try: livebearers (guppies, platies, swordfish), goldfish, clawed frogs, fiddler crabs, or even a Polypterus sp..
Keep in mind that turtles produce alot more waste than fish, so regular maintenance is vital to the health of the fish.
Hope this helps,
Good luck!