Echinodorus Paniculatus  bleheri

🌿 Species Profile

• Common Name: Amazon Sword / Bleheri Sword
• Scientific Name: Echinodorus bleheri (syn. Echinodorus paniculatus in older naming)
• Plant Type: Rosette sword plant
• Origin: South America (Amazon basin)
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Difficulty: Very easy
• Placement: Background / centerpiece

🌱 Appearance

• Long, broad lance-shaped leaves growing from a central crown
• Color:
  • Bright green to deep green
• Forms a large, bushy underwater “forest” effect
• Mature size:
  • Height: 30–60 cm (12–24 in)
  • Width: 20–40+ cm

🧪 Tank Requirements

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

🌿 Substrate & Nutrition

This is a heavy root feeder:

• Needs nutrient-rich substrate
• Root tabs are very important in inert gravel/sand
• Iron and micronutrients help keep leaves strong and green
• Poor nutrition causes small or yellowing leaves

✂️ Care Tips

• Keep crown above substrate (very important)
• Trim old outer leaves regularly
• Give plenty of space—it grows large quickly
• Stable fertilization = huge healthy leaves

🌱 Propagation

• Produces long flower stalks above water
• Baby plantlets form on the stalk
• Once roots develop, detach and replant

🐟 Aquarium Use

• One of the best plants for:
  • Background coverage
  • Natural Amazon-style aquascapes
• Ideal for:
  • Community fish tanks
  • Angelfish tanks
  • Discus setups
  • Tetra tanks

⭐ Why it’s so popular

• Extremely hardy
• Fast-growing
• Great beginner sword plant
• Creates instant “jungle” effect in aquariums