Depends on the cichlid. Some will be fine with plants, some will tear them all to shreds. I generally have good luck keeping anubias and cryptocoryne species with CA cichlids. SA cichlids seem to generally be easier on plants although I'm sure some will still shred them.
Here are some of my cichlids with a cryptocoryne in the background. Your plants won't stay perfect in a cichlid tank, notice the bite-marked leaves.