Amazon sword care

Echinodorus grisebachii

The Amazon sword is the classic large centerpiece plant for a 20 gallon or larger tank: broad leaves in a rosette that can reach the surface.

Light: Medium
CO₂: Helps
Where it goes: Background
Growth: Moderate
Care level: Easy
Height: 12 to 20 in
Temperature: 72 to 82 °F
How to plant: Plant the crown just above the substrate; feed the roots with root tabs
Propagation: Plantlets on runners or on flower stems

In a 20 gallon long

12¾ in tall

Drawn at its usual full height on the same scale as the tank; taller plants reach the surface and trail along it.

How to grow amazon sword

The Amazon sword is the classic large centerpiece plant for a 20 gallon or larger tank: broad leaves in a rosette that can reach the surface. It is a heavy root feeder, so give it root tabs from the start. Farm-grown plants often shed their first leaves as they switch to underwater growth.

Common problems

Yellow, see-through old leaves point to missing nutrients; add root tabs near the base.
Melting first leaves after planting is normal; new submerged leaves follow.

Light for amazon sword

Medium-light plants grow best under a planted-tank LED that spans the tank. Check the mounting length against your tank before buying: how to fit a planted light.

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Fluval Plant 3.0 22W

Adjustable mounting range 15–24 in; maker publishes 1,450 lm and PAR at several depths.

Details and fit →Check price on Amazon

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 CRV-24

Fixed 24-in fixture model; fit depends on the supplied legs and tank span.

Details and fit →Check price on Amazon

Plants that grow in the same light

Dwarf hairgrass

medium light · moderate

Monte Carlo

medium light · moderate

Water sprite

medium light · fast

Amazon frogbit

medium light · fast

Drawing

Echinodorus 'Vesuvius'

medium light · moderate

Dwarf aquarium lily

medium light · fast

All plants Where it goes in the tank How to trim it Yellow or damaged leaves Low-tech planted tank Fertilizer and root tabs Plant melt Planted tank equipment

Sources

Plant identity from Wikipedia: Echinodorus grisebachii. Heights, temperatures and care are typical ranges in aquariums from common planted-tank practice, not figures from that article. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.

Photo credits

Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.

Amazon sword Brianza2008, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dwarf hairgrass Andrey Zharkikh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Monte Carlo Yercaud-elango, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Water sprite chiuluan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Amazon frogbit Cardex, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Dwarf aquarium lily Vengolis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons