Echinodorus Radican Broadleaf

🌿 Species Profile

• Common Name: Broadleaf Amazon Sword
• Scientific Name: Echinodorus radicans (Broadleaf form)
• Plant Type: Rosette sword plant
• Origin: South America (cultivated aquarium form)
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Difficulty: Easy
• Placement: Background / centerpiece

🌱 Appearance

• Very broad, long sword-shaped leaves
• Deep green, sometimes slightly glossy texture
• Forms a dense, bushy rosette
• Mature size:
  • Height: 40–60 cm (16–24 in)
  • Width: 30–50 cm

This is one of the most “jungle-like” Amazon swords in appearance.

🧪 Tank Requirements

• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water
• Lighting: Low to medium (medium preferred)
• CO₂: Not required

🌿 Substrate & Nutrition

• Heavy root feeder
• Requires:
  • Nutrient-rich substrate or aquasoil
  • Root tabs (very important in gravel tanks)
  • Iron & trace elements for strong leaf growth
• Poor nutrients → smaller, thinner leaves

✂️ Care Tips

• Keep crown above substrate
• Needs plenty of space to expand
• Remove old outer leaves regularly
• Stable fertilization = large healthy leaves
• Very forgiving for beginners

🌱 Propagation

• Sends up long flower stalks above water
• Produces plantlets along the stalk
• Once rooted, plantlets can be separated and replanted

🐟 Aquarium Use

Ideal for:

• Large community tanks
• Amazon biotope setups
• Angelfish and discus aquariums

Compatible with:

• Tetras
• Corydoras
• Rasboras
• Shrimp
• Peaceful cichlids

⭐ Key highlight

Broadleaf Echinodorus radicans is chosen when you want a big, bold green background plant that quickly fills space and creates a dense natural jungle look.