Echinodorus Marble Queen
Plant Profile
Living up to its regal name, Echinodorus 'Marble Queen' brings a variegated look to the sword plant family. This rare cultivar produces broad, heart-shaped to oval green leaves intricately marbled with creamy-white and pale yellow streaks across the entire blade. Maxing out around 12 inches tall, its balanced proportions make it an eye-catching centerpiece in midground zones or a prominent background feature in medium aquariums. Its hardy nature, undemanding care requirements, and contrasting leaf patterns make it a stunning collector-grade addition that brightens up any planted layout without requiring high-maintenance effort.
Key Features & Notes
- Striking marbled foliage displays creamy white and pale yellow patterns across rich green leaves.
- Broad, heart-shaped leaf structure creates a dramatic focal point in midground or background zones.
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 central crown 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 moderate to high lighting; while CO2 injection isn't strictly required, good lighting will enhance its variegated contrast.
- Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
- Sword plants propagate through side shoots off of their leaves, which can be trimmed and replanted into the substrate. To control the size of your sword plant, you can remove the side shoots and older leaves.
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 'Marble Queen' |
| Common Name(s) | Marble Queen Sword, Echinodorus Marble Queen |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette plant / Variegated Cultivar |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Low to Moderate (Moderate to High for best marbling) |
| CO2 Requirement | Not required (Optional) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground Centerpiece / Background Accent |
| Height / Size | 6–12 inches |
| Growth Rate | Slow to 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 bright, creamy-white marbling on Echinodorus 'Marble Queen'?
Provide moderate-to-high lighting directly over the plant and ensure the substrate is rich in nutrients using root tabs or aquasoil. Ample light helps maintain distinct white and pale yellow patterning on newly unfurled leaves rather than fading to plain green.
2. Can Echinodorus 'Marble Queen' grow in low-tech aquariums without CO2?
Yes, it grows easily in low-tech aquariums without pressurized CO2. Supplying a nutrient-dense soil or placing regular root tabs near the root crown alongside decent lighting will keep it healthy and producing marbled foliage.
3. Is Echinodorus 'Marble Queen' suitable for midground placement?
Maxing out around 12 inches tall, 'Marble Queen' is ideally proportioned for midground focal placement in medium to large setups, or background placement in smaller nano aquariums where it won't overwhelm the glass.