Echinodorus 'Vesuvius' Care Guide
Echinodorus 'Vesuvius' is a compact sword cultivar with tightly twisted corkscrew-like leaves, an undemanding midground plant that grows even without CO2.
Overview
Echinodorus 'Vesuvius' is a compact sword cultivar in the family Alismataceae, notable for narrow leaves that grow in a tight corkscrew twist. According to plant databases it is a mutant selected from Helanthium bolivianum 'Angustifolius' (formerly Echinodorus angustifolius) by breeder Eu Kwee Hwang at the Oriental Aquarium nursery in Singapore and introduced commercially in 2006; the name refers to the leaves appearing to spiral up from the base.
Taxonomy
- Family: Alismataceae
- Genus: Echinodorus
- Scientific name: Echinodorus 'Vesuvius'
- Synonym: Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'
Habitat
As a selected cultivar it has no wild range; its parent Helanthium bolivianum is native to South America. It is cultivated solely as an aquarium plant.
Growth requirements
- Water type: freshwater
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 3-14 °dGH
- Lighting: medium (tolerates low to high)
- CO2: not required but speeds growth
Vesuvius is a heavy root feeder that does best with a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. It is usually grown emersed at nurseries, so emersed leaves may melt back after planting before slender submersed foliage appears.
Placement
Growing to roughly 10-12 inches (around 25 cm, matching the KB record), it works as a midground plant in medium to large tanks or a background plant in nano tanks.
Propagation
It propagates through runners and plantlets, which can be clipped once rooted and replanted elsewhere in the aquarium.