TankBud

Amazon sword

Echinodorus grisebachii

Also known as Echinodorus amazonicus, Echinodorus bleheri, Echinodorus bleherae, Echinodorus parviflorus, Aquarius grisebachii

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersPlantlets

Amazon sword (Echinodorus grisebachii)
(c) Alberto Alcalá, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
19.7 in
50 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Rosette
pH
6.5–7.5
Hardness
5–15 dGH
Spread
15.7 in (40 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root feeder
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Alismataceae
Origin
Cuba, Central and South America (Amazon basin)

Overview

Amazon sword is a classic rosette for the background, or a centerpiece in medium and larger tanks. It is rated easy.

Did you know

Many swords sold under other names, such as amazonicus, bleheri and gracilis, are genetically the same plant as Amazon sword. Two swords with different labels and price tags can be identical.

Caring for Amazon sword

Plant Amazon sword in a nutrient-rich substrate and keep the crown, where the leaves meet the roots, above the soil so it does not rot. It is a heavy root feeder, so keep root tabs under it.

It does fine in medium light and grows well without added CO2. An iron-rich fertilizer gives bigger, greener leaves. Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Expect some old leaves to melt back after planting while it adjusts. Growth is fast, and a healthy plant gets large, so give it room. It spreads by runners and by daughter plants that form along its arching flower stalks. Detach them once they have a few roots.

Good to know

Amazon sword belongs to the Alismataceae, the water plantain family. After 2008 DNA work, E. amazonicus, E. bleherae, E. gracilis and E. parviflorus were folded into Echinodorus grisebachii as synonyms. It grows from a central rosette on a short rootstock.

In the wild

Amazon sword is native to Cuba, Central America and South America as far south as Brazil and Bolivia. It grows in stagnant to slow-flowing water 50 to 100 cm deep. It is an amphibious marsh plant that stays submersed for most of the year. It pushes emersed leaves and flower stalks only when the water drops in the dry season.

Common questions

Does Amazon sword need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Bury the roots and leave the crown, where the leaves join, just above the substrate.

Does Amazon sword need CO2?

No. Amazon sword grows well without added CO2.

How much light does Amazon sword need?

Amazon sword wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Amazon sword need root tabs?

Yes. Amazon sword draws much of its food through its roots. Push root tabs in near it, or grow it in a nutrient-rich soil.

How do you propagate Amazon sword?

Amazon sword propagates by runners and plantlets. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it. Small plantlets form on the plant and can be detached once they have a few roots.

How tall does Amazon sword grow?

Amazon sword grows to about 19.7 in (50 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

Related plants