Echinodorus Aflame

Plant Profile

Echinodorus 'Aflame', also known as the Purple Knight Sword, is a cultivated rosette species valued for its dark, narrow foliage. Native to the tropical Western Hemisphere through its parent lineage, this sword plant produces long, slightly twisted leaves that range in color from deep bronze and dark violet-red to near-black purple under bright lighting. Reaching 4 to 12 inches in height, its compact rosette structure provides a high-contrast centerpiece in midground or background zones. While adaptable across various tank conditions, providing clean water parameters and a steady supply of iron and root nutrients helps maintain its deep purple-red coloration.

Key Features & Benefits

• Dark foliage displays shades of bronze, deep purple, and violet-red under moderate to high lighting.
• Compact rosette structure creates high-contrast focal points against green aquatic plants.
• Hardy background plant suitable for medium and large planted aquarium layouts.

Care & Planting Instructions

• Gently remove the plant from its plastic pot and unwrap the cotton or rockwool media surrounding the root cluster under room-temperature water.
• Plant the roots directly into your aquarium soil, ensuring the central crown sits slightly above the substrate line to prevent tissue 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 medium to high lighting; while CO2 injection is optional, supplying regular liquid iron supplementation and CO2 encourages faster growth and deeper purple tones. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
• Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
• To propagate, allow daughter plantlets to form along flowering runners or separate new shoots along the crown once independent roots sprout, then 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!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I prep potted Echinodorus Aflame before planting?

Remove the plastic pot and unwrap the cotton or foam surrounding the root base under room-temperature water. Inspect the base, snip off damaged outer leaves, and gently insert the roots into your aquarium soil using pinsettes.

2. How do I achieve the darkest purple and red colors on Echinodorus Aflame?

Deep purple-red leaf coloration requires moderate to high light levels, iron supplementation in the water column, and nutrient tabs placed in your aquarium soil near the root base.

3. How is Echinodorus Aflame propagated?

Unlike stem plants, Echinodorus species grow from a central crown and propagate by producing flowering runners that sprout small daughter plantlets. Once these plantlets form roots, cut them from the runner and plant them into your aquarium soil.

Common Name: Aflame Sword

The Aflame sword is a highly sought after Echinodorus that's considered quite rare in the hobby. Some argue that that the awesome name of this plant provided inspiration for the flaming sword used by Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr in Game of Thrones. The leaves of this unique plant can range from green to red depending on the growing conditions and the addition of iron can help in bringing out the robust coloration.

Propagation is simple and straightforward like other stem plants. Simply cut along the stem and replant the cuttings. 

Notes:

• Echinodorus is a very hardy species of aquatic plants. Most Echinodorus require nutrient-dense soil to thrive as they are heavy root feeders.
• Echinodorus grow fairly large and are more suitable for larger planted aquariums.
• Do not make drastic changes to the aquarium. Unstable parameters will result in melt and rotting of the aquarium plant.
• Please be sure to remove this plant from its pot. Remove the cotton surrounding the roots and plant into a quality substrate. For instructions on how to properly prep "potted" aquarium plants, click here.
• CO2 injection and quality aquarium soil will yield better growth.
• Please research appropriately to ensure your plant thrives.

Family Name: Haloragaceae

Origin: North America

Height: 4-12”

pH: 6.5-7.5

Care: Easy to Moderate

Light: Medium to High

Co2: Required 

Propagation: Cut the stem and replant

Growth rate: Moderate to Fast