Echinodorus Rose

Rose is a cultivated sword plant rather than a species collected from the wild, bred within the Echinodorus group for one trait: new leaves that unfurl a soft pink to rose red before ageing down to green. Because only the newest leaves carry that colour, a healthy, actively growing plant looks quite different from a stalled one, which makes it a fair indicator of how well a substrate is feeding.

Aquarium care

• Swords feed heavily through their roots. Root tabs pushed into the substrate matter far more than liquid fertiliser.
• Plant the crown at substrate level, with the roots buried and the growing point clear.
• Give it a deep bed of gravel or sand. The root mass gets substantial.
• Plants raised emersed at the farm usually drop their original leaves after going underwater, then regrow submerged foliage. Trim the dying ones off.
• Moderate to strong light brings out stronger colour on the new growth.

Best in a tank tall enough to let a rosette open properly, as a single specimen behind driftwood. It works with angelfish, discus, rainbowfish and the usual mid-sized community fish.

Availability changes as plants come in. Local pickup at our Lethbridge store, and the rest of the sword plants are listed here.