Echinodorus 'Rubin Narrow' Care Guide
Echinodorus 'Rubin Narrow' is a narrow-leaved sword hybrid with ruby-red young foliage, a hardy heavy root feeder for the background of low-tech tanks.
Overview
Echinodorus 'Rubin Narrow' is a cultivated sword plant in the family Alismataceae, a narrower-leaved variant of the 'Rubin' hybrid (also listed as E. 'Rubin' var. lancifolius). Its young submerged leaves emerge an intense ruby red and translucent with light veins, maturing toward brown-olive tones. The leaves are elongated-lanceolate and curved, roughly 2-2.5 cm wide.
Taxonomy
- Family: Alismataceae
- Genus: Echinodorus
- Scientific name: Echinodorus 'Rubin Narrow'
- Origin: cultivated hybrid (does not occur in the wild)
Habitat
As a horticultural hybrid the plant has no natural range; the parent genus Echinodorus is native to the Americas. It is grown purely as an aquarium plant, valued for its red foliage and resilience.
Growth requirements
- Water type: freshwater
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F); tolerates 15-30 °C
- pH: 6.0-7.5 (grows in soft to hard water, pH 6-9)
- GH: 3-14 °dGH (tolerates 0-30)
- Lighting: medium; brightest colour in an unshaded position
- CO2: not required but favourable for growth
The plant is a heavy root feeder and performs best with a nutrient-rich substrate. Growth rate is medium and it develops its strongest colour under bright light.
Placement
The rosette reaches roughly 20-35 cm high and 25-40 cm wide, suiting the midground to background. The KB record lists a maximum height around 50 cm.
Propagation
It is propagated through adventitious plantlets that form on proliferating inflorescences (flower stalks), and by rhizome division. The young plantlets can be detached once rooted and replanted.