Echinodorus 'Osiris' (Echinodorus osiris) Care Guide

A large, striking sword plant with broad burgundy-red new leaves that transition to dark green as they mature. An excellent background specimen plant for larger aquariums.

Overview

Echinodorus osiris is an aquatic plant in the family Alismataceae. A large, striking sword plant with broad burgundy-red new leaves that transition to dark green as they mature. An excellent background specimen plant for larger aquariums.

Taxonomy

Family: Alismataceae
Genus: Echinodorus
Scientific name: Echinodorus osiris
Other names: Melon Sword, Osiris Sword

Habitat

A horticultural sword plant of South American origin within the genus Echinodorus. The species is cultivated rather than collected from the wild; the genus is distributed across freshwater wetlands of the Americas.

Growth requirements

Light: medium (≈50-80 PAR at substrate)
CO2: optional (CO2 improves growth and coloration)
Temperature: 22-28 °C
pH: 6.5-7.5
GH: 3-15 °dGH
Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil or fertilised gravel
Nutrient demand: medium
Growth rate: medium
Difficulty: beginner

Placement

Recommended placement: background
Maximum height: 50 cm

Propagation

In cultivation the plant is propagated by runners (daughter plants on horizontal stolons) and adventitious plantlets on mature fronds.