- Common name
- Amazon sword
- Scientific name
- Aquarius grisebachii
- Category
- Aquarium plant
- Group
- Sword plants
- Environment
- Freshwater planted aquarium
- Origin
- Tropical America, including parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America
- Care level
- Easy to intermediate
- Adult size
- Usually about 20–50 cm tall in aquarium cultivation; spread commonly reaches 20–30+ cm
- Expected lifespan
- Long-lived perennial when conditions remain suitable
- Minimum housing
- No fixed litre minimum; allow at least a 30 cm planting footprint and sufficient height for 20–50 cm leaves
- Temperature
- Unknown — no dependable species-wide aquarium temperature range found from the selected primary sources
- pH
- Unknown — no dependable species-wide numeric aquarium range found
- Hardness / minerals
- Unknown — no dependable species-wide GH or KH range found; maintain stable freshwater mineral conditions
- Salinity
- Freshwater; not a brackish plant
- Lighting
- Low to moderate; stronger light increases demand for carbon and nutrients
- Placement / zone
- Midground to background, depending on aquarium height
- Filtration
- Use gentle-to-moderate circulation and mechanical capture that keep debris off broad leaves without lifting roots or burying the crown. Guard intakes after pruning and preserve the biological filter when fertiliser or carbon delivery changes.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable whole-aquarium gas exchange. In injected-carbon systems, preserve safe night-time oxygen and increase surface exchange immediately if livestock show respiratory stress.
- Maintenance
- Remove declining leaves at the crown with clean tools, clear trapped debris, inspect crown and root anchorage, thin plantlets before shading becomes excessive, and collect every viable fragment for secure disposal.
Identity and search names
Use this profile for Aquarius grisebachii and its established botanical synonyms, not every aquarium plant sold loosely as an Amazon sword.
Search names: Echinodorus grisebachii, Echinodorus amazonicus, Echinodorus bleherae, Amazon sword plant
Environment and housing
Plant the crown above the substrate surface in a deep nutrient-accessible root zone. Leave open space around the rosette so leaves are not crushed.
Social structure: Not applicable
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Root-accessible nutrients plus balanced water-column macro- and micronutrients
Feeding routine: Maintain light, carbon and nutrients according to measured plant response
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Propagates by flower stalks and adventitious plantlets. Separate plantlets only after they have formed roots and several leaves.
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Use this profile for Aquarius grisebachii and its established botanical synonyms, not every aquarium plant sold loosely as an Amazon sword.
- Adult size and space
- Allow for a 20–50 cm tall rosette and 20–30+ cm spread. Small tanks may be completely shaded by mature leaves.
- Social structure
- A single rosette or spaced cluster; no animal social structure applies. Separate crowns so each receives light, circulation and maintenance access.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Rooted midground to background structure; no animal swimming zone applies. Preserve open lanes around mature leaves for livestock movement and feeding.
- Feeding ecology
- Rooted photosynthetic macrophyte using light, dissolved carbon, root-zone nutrients and water-column nutrients.
- Feeding plan
- Prioritise root-zone nutrition, then correct water-column deficiencies only after observing new growth. Do not overdose iron to force colour.
- Water stability
- Exact numeric temperature, pH and hardness limits remain unknown here. Maintain stable dechlorinated freshwater and make mineral changes gradually.
- Habitat structure
- Deep nutrient-accessible substrate with the crown above the surface, open overhead light and enough clearance for mature leaves.
- Compatibility plan
- Avoid large digging cichlids, strong herbivores and placements where floating plants or taller stems permanently shade the rosette.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Allow flower stalk plantlets to root before separation. Dispose of unwanted plantlets and leaves securely.
- Quarantine
- Inspect leaves, roots and packaging for snails, eggs, algae, hydra, pesticides and decay before planting.
- Welfare checks
- Check crown firmness, new-leaf shape, root anchorage, yellowing, pinholes, transparent tissue and algae before changing fertilisation.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release aquarium plants, fragments, substrate or wastewater into drains, ponds, dams or waterways. Check current Australian import conditions and state weed rules using the accepted botanical identity and its synonyms.
- Main risk
- Planting a large sword in insufficient space or burying the crown, causing shading and crown rot.
- Adult projected load
- Projected load is the mature rosette footprint, extensive root mass, nutrient uptake, shading, night-time respiration and decaying old leaves. A small retail plant can become the dominant structure in a short aquarium.
- Filtration
- Use gentle-to-moderate circulation and mechanical capture that keep debris off broad leaves without lifting roots or burying the crown. Guard intakes after pruning and preserve the biological filter when fertiliser or carbon delivery changes.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable whole-aquarium gas exchange. In injected-carbon systems, preserve safe night-time oxygen and increase surface exchange immediately if livestock show respiratory stress.
- Maintenance
- Remove declining leaves at the crown with clean tools, clear trapped debris, inspect crown and root anchorage, thin plantlets before shading becomes excessive, and collect every viable fragment for secure disposal.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: keep the crown exposed, preserve enough mature height and footprint, and never release viable plant material or aquarium water. Fertiliser, carbon and pruning methods may vary only while livestock safety, stable growth and lawful containment remain protected.
- Identity
- Accepted botanical name Aquarius grisebachii. Common aquarium synonyms include Echinodorus grisebachii, E. amazonicus and E. bleherae.
- Environment
- Plant the crown above the substrate surface in a deep nutrient-accessible root zone. Leave open space around the rosette so leaves are not crushed.
- Feeding
- Use root fertilisation where the substrate is poor and balanced water-column nutrients according to measured plant demand. Carbon dioxide is optional at lower light but can improve growth.
- Breeding
- Propagates by flower stalks and adventitious plantlets. Separate plantlets only after they have formed roots and several leaves.
- Adult size and space
- Allow for a 20–50 cm tall rosette and 20–30+ cm spread. Small tanks may be completely shaded by mature leaves.
- Growth Rate
- Moderate under stable light and root nutrition; newly planted specimens may pause while establishing roots.
- Lighting Plan
- Low to moderate light is adequate. Increase intensity only when nutrients, carbon availability and algae control are stable.
- Carbon Plan
- Injected carbon dioxide is not essential under low light but can improve growth. Avoid unstable daily carbon swings.
- Nutrient Plan
- Prioritise root-zone nutrition, then correct water-column deficiencies only after observing new growth. Do not overdose iron to force colour.
- Substrate Plan
- Use a deep substrate that permits extensive roots. Keep the crown exposed and avoid repeated uprooting.
- Propagation plan
- Allow flower stalk plantlets to root before separation. Dispose of unwanted plantlets and leaves securely.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release aquarium plants, fragments, substrate or wastewater into drains, ponds, dams or waterways. Check current Australian import conditions and state weed rules using the accepted botanical identity and its synonyms.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Suitable for peaceful planted aquaria; large digging or herbivorous fish may uproot or damage leaves
Welfare: Check crown firmness, new-leaf shape, root anchorage, yellowing, pinholes, transparent tissue and algae before changing fertilisation.
Main warning: The accepted name is Aquarius grisebachii. Several familiar Echinodorus trade names are synonyms, and large mature leaves can shade an entire small aquarium.
Biosecurity and release
Never release aquarium plants, fragments, substrate or wastewater into drains, ponds, dams or waterways. Check current Australian import conditions and state weed rules using the accepted botanical identity and its synonyms.