Amazon Sword Plant

The Plant
Amazon sword (Echinodorus amazonicus) is a rooted plant from the Americas with long, broad, bright green leaves that grow from a central crown. It is hardy and easy. It is amphibious, so leaves will grow up past the waterline if you never trim it.

Plant Care
Type: Rosette, amphibious · Origin: North, Central and South America · Height: up to 24 in. · Light: Low to moderate · CO2: Not required · Temp: 72–82°F · pH: 6.0–7.8

Planting Tips
Give it room: plan on a tank of 20 gallons or more. Bury the roots and keep the crown just above the substrate. Swords feed mostly through their roots, so a root tab near the base helps. Cut off old outer leaves to keep it underwater.

Why Shrimp Keepers Like It
The big leaves give shrimp shade and a wide surface for biofilm. It pulls nutrients from both the substrate and the water, and the space under the leaves shelters berried females and shrimplets.

Photos © AquaticMotiv, used with credit.

Information sourced from AquaticMotiv