Care Guide

Ruffled sword

Echinodorus Martii

Advanced difficultyOut of Season

Care at a Glance

Lighting

Moderate

Growth Rate

Moderate

Growth Form

Rosette

Placement

Background

True Aquatic

Yes

Available As

Bare root

About This Plant

Echinodorus martii is an excellent choice for the larger aquarium. Ruffled leaf margins give this Echinodorus its common name, ruffled sword plant. Tall upright leaves make Echinodorus martii a great choice for the centerpiece of an aquarium or background areas.

About the Echinodorus Genus

Family — Alismataceae

Echinodorus ("Amazon swords") are large rosette plants from South American river basins, used as background or specimen plants in larger aquariums. They are heavy root feeders, so a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs make a noticeable difference in leaf size and color.

Quick-Reference Details

Common name: Ruffled sword
Scientific name: Echinodorus Martii
Family: Alismataceae
Native to: Eastern Brazil
Difficulty: Advanced
Requirements: Undemanding, but like most large sword does best with regular feeding
Lighting: Moderate
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth form: Rosette
Placement: Background
True aquatic: Yes
Available as: Bare root

Difficulty — Advanced

Performs best with strong lighting, CO2 supplementation, and stable water parameters. Not recommended as a first plant.

CO2 & Fertilization

CO2 is optional. Growth improves with supplementation, but the plant survives and stays presentable without it.

Tank Size & Setup

Best in tanks 20 gallons or larger so background stems have room to grow up and be trimmed without overtaking the foreground.

Aquascaping & Placement

Plant at the back of the tank as a vertical accent or full background curtain. Group stems in clusters of 5-10 for a fuller display. Plant the root crown just at the substrate surface. Burying the crown causes the plant to push itself back up over a few days.

Tank-Mate Compatibility

Compatible with the full range of community-tank species — tetras, rasboras, livebearers, corydoras, and most other peaceful freshwater fish do not damage the foliage.

Pro Tips for Growing Ruffled sword

1Add root tabs every 3-4 months under the rosette — sword plants are heavy substrate feeders.
2Trim outer leaves at the base, not partway up the leaf — partial cuts brown back and look ragged.
3Daughter plantlets that grow on the flower stalks can be cut off and replanted as new specimens.

Common Care Issues

Slow initial growth

Most aquarium plants pause for 2-4 weeks after planting while they convert from their nursery-grown emersed form to fully submerged growth. New leaves that emerge underwater will look thinner and slightly different — this is the plant adapting, not a problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much light does Ruffled sword need?

Ruffled sword (Echinodorus Martii) prefers moderate lighting. A standard planted-tank LED fixture run 7-9 hours a day is typical.

Does Ruffled sword need CO2?

CO2 is optional. Growth improves with supplementation, but the plant survives and stays presentable without it.

Is Ruffled sword good for beginners?

Ruffled sword is rated advanced-level. Performs best with strong lighting, CO2 supplementation, and stable water parameters. Not recommended as a first plant.

How fast does Ruffled sword grow?

Growth rate is moderate. Most aquarists trim every 3-4 weeks under standard conditions.

What fish and invertebrates are compatible with Ruffled sword?

Compatible with the full range of community-tank species — tetras, rasboras, livebearers, corydoras, and most other peaceful freshwater fish do not damage the foliage.

Available to Purchase

Ruffled sword — $19.99

Free 2-day shipping on orders over $100

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