Echinodorus Rose
Plant Profile
Echinodorus 'Rose' is a cultivated sword plant popular in freshwater aquascaping. Native to tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere through its parent lineage, this hybrid is characterized by wide, oblong leaves with wavy edges and visible leaf veins. Newly emerging leaves display pink and bronze colors before maturing to bright green and dark olive-green as they age. Its substantial footprint allows it to function as a bold midground centerpiece in larger aquariums or a sweeping background accent in medium layouts. Because it thrives in low to moderate lighting without requiring CO2, it is a beginner-friendly and low-tech plant choice for adding color to a planted tank.
Key Features & Benefits
- Foliage shifts color from pink and bronze on new leaves to dark green on mature growth.
- Broad leaf structure provides coverage and structural focal points in midground and background areas.
- Hardy rosette growth adapts to a range of water conditions and low-tech tank setups.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
- Plant the roots into your aquarium soil, ensuring the central crown remains positioned just above the substrate line to avoid root rot.
- All Echinodorus are heavy root feeders that rely on rich substrate nutrition; placing root tabs near the base supports steady, healthy leaf development.
- Provide low to moderate lighting; while CO2 is not required, supplying moderate light and liquid iron supplements helps highlight the pink and bronze tones on young leaves. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
- Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
- To propagate submerged plants, allow runner shoots to develop off the main plant, then separate rooted plantlets and replant them directly into your aquarium soil. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Echinodorus 'Rose' |
| Common Name(s) | Rose Sword Plant, Echinodorus Rose |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette plant / Cultivar |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Low to Moderate |
| CO2 Requirement | Recommended for red/pink tones (Optional for growth) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground / Background Accent |
| Height / Size | 10–20+ inches |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.0–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Separate new plantlets from the root crown or adventitious shoots |
| Origin | Cultivated cultivar (Species origin: South America) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I maintain and enhance the vibrant pink and bronze leaf color on Echinodorus 'Rose'?
While CO2 injection is not strictly necessary for basic growth, supplementing CO2 along with moderate lighting and iron-rich root tabs is strongly recommended to unlock and intensify the brilliant pink and bronze hues on newly emerging leaves.
2. Can Echinodorus 'Rose' grow successfully in a low-tech tank without CO2?
Yes, it is a hardy cultivar that will adapt and grow steadily in low-tech setups without pressurized CO2. However, under lower light and without CO2, the foliage will lean more toward deep olive and dark green tones rather than vibrant pinks.
3. Can the Rose Sword Plant be grown out of water?
Yes, the Rose Sword Plant grows in emersed conditions as well as submerged. When grown emersed in open terrariums or paludariums, it produces flowers that can set seeds for reproduction.