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 12 inches in height, its compact 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
- Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
- Plant the roots deeply into your aquarium soil, keeping the crown of the plant resting just above the substrate line to prevent 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!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Echinodorus 'Aflame' |
| Common Name(s) | Aflame Sword, Purple Knight Sword, Echinodorus Aflame |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette Sword Plant |
| Care Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Recommended (Enhances growth speed and deep purple hues) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground / Background Focal Point |
| Height / Size | 4–12”+ |
| Growth Rate | Slow to Moderate |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.5–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Runner Plantlets / Division |
| Origin | Cultivar / Hybrid Variant |
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.