Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri)

In a home aquarium it typically reaches 30–50 cm across, so give it a tank of at least 75 litres (about a 2.5 ft tank) and space to spread.

It’s a heavy root feeder — root tabs or a nutrient-rich substrate under the crown make a big difference to leaf size and colour.

Some melt is normal when the plant switches from emersed (grown above water) to fully submerged growth. Trim melted leaves and the crown will push out new submerged growth.

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Yes, it is one of the easiest large plants for a beginner’s tank. It grows in moderate light at 22–28°C without CO₂, at a moderate pace. It needs two things: regular root feeding and room to spread, as it forms a big rosette. Some old leaves may melt in the first few weeks. If leaves turn pale later, read why Amazon Sword leaves turn yellow.

No, it does not need aquasoil, but it does need food at the roots. It grows well in gravel or sand if you push a root tab into the substrate beside it every 1–2 months. Fresh aquasoil feeds it for several months; once it runs low, add root tabs too. Use at least 5 cm of substrate for its thick roots and keep the crown above the surface. Compare root tabs vs liquid fertiliser.

Only slowly, and not like a carpet plant. It grows as one rosette that widens to about 30–50 cm across. A healthy, well-fed plant may send out long flower stalks (often called runners) that carry baby plants. Once a baby has a few leaves and roots, pin it into the substrate or cut it free and replant it. See how to propagate aquarium plants.

Trim very long roots back to a few centimetres, then push the roots into the gravel so they sit at least 5 cm deep, keeping the crown where the leaves meet the roots just above the surface. Plain gravel holds few nutrients, so push a root tab next to the base every couple of months. More in our Amazon Sword care guide.

Yes. Amazon Sword is a bog plant and grows happily emersed in a humid paludarium or with its leaves above the waterline. Many plants are farmed this way, which is why the tougher emersed leaves can melt back after planting underwater. New submerged leaves grow from the crown within a few weeks.

The most common cause is hunger: Amazon Sword is a heavy root feeder, and yellow or brown older leaves usually mean the substrate has run out of iron, potassium or nitrogen. Add a root tab near the crown and remove the dying leaves. Our Amazon Sword turning yellow guide covers every cause.