Echinodorus Ozelot Green
Plant Profile
Echinodorus 'Ozelot Green' is a classic, colorful hybrid sword plant created by crossing Echinodorus 'Leopard' and Echinodorus barthii. Known for its compact rosette habit and broad leaf shape, it produces bright lime to olive green leaves speckled with dark reddish-brown spots that stand out on new growth. Maxing out around 18 inches tall, it provides lush coverage across the background of medium setups or serves as a solid midground centerpiece in larger tanks. It isn't picky about water parameters, making it an easygoing choice for aquascapers looking for bold pattern contrast without high-maintenance demands.
Key Features & Notes
- Broad, bright green leaves decorated with dark reddish-brown spotted markings.
- Compact rosette structure provides full, dense coverage for midground or background zones.
- Hardy hybrid variety that adapts easily across a wide range of low-tech and high-tech tank conditions.
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.
- Supplemental CO2 injection accelerates growth and encourages denser, fuller foliage, though the plant will still grow steadily in low-tech setups.
- 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 'Ozelot Green' |
| Common Name(s) | Green Ozelot Sword, Echinodorus Ozelot Green |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette plant / Cultivar Hybrid |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Moderate |
| CO2 Requirement | Not required (Optional) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground Centerpiece / Background Accent |
| Height / Size | 8–18 inches |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.0–8.0 |
| Propagation Method | Separate new plantlets from the root crown or adventitious shoots |
| Origin | Cultivated hybrid cultivar (E. schlueteri 'Leopard' x E. barthii) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I keep the dark spots visible on Echinodorus 'Ozelot Green'?
Providing moderate lighting and ensuring the plant gets sufficient nutrients from quality soil or root tabs will help keep the dark reddish-brown spots clear and vibrant against the bright green leaves.
2. Does Echinodorus 'Ozelot Green' need pressurized CO2?
No, CO2 injection is not required for 'Ozelot Green'. It grows reliably in low-tech setups as long as it has good substrate nutrition and adequate light.
3. How do I control the overall size of Echinodorus 'Ozelot Green'?
To keep the plant at a manageable size, simply prune off the larger outer leaves at the root crown using sharp scissors. You can also trim off any side shoots or runner plantlets that form.