Chain, Narrow Leaf
Helanthium tenellum
Compact rosette plant for foreground or midground placement. Spreads via runners to form a dense carpet over time. More forgiving than larger sword plants — thrives in low-tech setups with moderate light and any substrate. The narrow-leaf form has slimmer foliage — useful for tighter spaces or detail aquascaping.
About this Plant
Helanthium tenellum is a great sword plant to be used in foreground or midground areas of the aquarium. Pygmy chain sword, as it is commonly called, spreads by runners and can form a nice carpet in the foreground areas of the aquarium. Helanthium tenellum is a native to the warmer parts of North, Central and South America. This plant was sold for many years under the name, Echinodorus tenellus . However the chain swords, as a group have been moved to the genus Helanthium .
Care Guide
- Common Name
- Pygmy chain sword
- Family
- Alismataceae
- Native To
- The western hemisphere
- Lighting
- Moderate
- Requirements
- Undemanding, but spreads better with a nutrient rich substrate
- Growth Form
- Rosette, runner
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- True Aquatic
- Yes
- Placement in Tank
- Foreground
- Available As
- Bare root, potted