Echinodorus Red Phoenix
Plant Profile
Echinodorus 'Red Phoenix' lives up to its mythical name by bringing a fiery spectrum of color into the aquarium. This stunning hybrid sword produces broad, oval leaves with pointed tips that cycle through a dynamic palette of soft greens, warm oranges, and deep ruby reds depending on light intensity and nutrient availability. Reaching anywhere from 8 to 18 inches in height, its substantial size makes it an ideal centerpiece in midground zones or an eye-catching background feature in large planted displays. Extremely hardy and adaptable, it allows aquascapers of all experience levels to achieve rich sunset hues without needing a complex or delicate high-tech maintenance routine.
Key Features & Notes
- Fiery leaf coloration shifts dynamically through shades of green, warm orange, and deep red.
- Broad, pointed oval foliage creates a dramatic structural 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 fiery orange and red colors. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
- 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 'Red Phoenix' |
| Common Name(s) | Red Phoenix Sword, Echinodorus Red Phoenix |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette plant / Cultivar Hybrid |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Moderate to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Not required (Optional) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground / 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 (Species origin: South America) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I maintain and enhance the vibrant orange and red tones on Echinodorus 'Red Phoenix'?
Provide moderate-to-high lighting and supplement the substrate with iron-rich root tabs. Higher light intensity directly over the rosette encourages new emerging leaves to develop intense orange and red coloration rather than remaining green.
2. Can Echinodorus 'Red Phoenix' grow in low-tech aquariums without CO2?
Yes, it adapts easily to low-tech setups without pressurized CO2. Supplying a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs along with moderate lighting is all it needs to produce steady growth and colorful foliage.
3. Why does my Red Phoenix Sword display different leaf colors on the same plant?
This multi-toned effect is a signature trait of 'Red Phoenix.' Young center leaves unfurl in shades of red and fiery orange, gradually maturing into warm golden-green and olive tones toward the outer edges of the rosette.