Description
Plant Profile
Echinodorus muricatus, commonly called the Radican Sword, brings scale and bright color to open background spaces with its large, textured leaves with prominent ribs. Its bright green foliage is slightly translucent, allowing light to pass through while providing ample shelter for shy community fish. Topping out between 12 and 20 inches, it relies heavily on root-level nutrients to drive its rapid growth, occasionally sending long flower stalks above the waterline when mature. Its tolerance for varied water parameters and low-tech setups without CO2 injection makes it one of the most reliable background aquarium plants for beginners setting up medium to large aquascapes.
Key Features & Notes
Broad, slightly translucent oval leaves bring bright light-green color and subtle texture to the background.
Fast-growing rosette formation rapidly fills open space in larger display tanks.
Hardy nature and broad parameter tolerance make it easy to maintain without specialized equipment.
Care & Planting Instructions
Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
Plant the roots deeply into your aquarium soil, keeping the crown of the plant resting just above the substrate line to prevent rot.
All Echinodorus are heavy root feeders that rely on rich substrate nutrition; placing root tabs near the base supports steady, healthy leaf development.
Supplemental CO2 injection accelerates growth and encourages denser, fuller foliage, though the plant will still grow steadily in low-tech setups.
Radican sword plants propagate through side shoots off of their rhizome, which can be trimmed and replanted into the substrate. To control the size of your Radican sword plant, you can remove the side shoots and older leaves.
Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Echinodorus muricatus (syn. Echinodorus cordifolius)
Common Name(s)
Radican Sword, Radican Sword Plant
Family
Alismataceae
Plant Type / Taxonomy
Rosette plant
Care Difficulty
Easy
Light Requirement
Moderate
CO2 Requirement
Not necessary (Optional)
Placement / Usage
Background
Height / Size
12–20+ inches
Growth Rate
Fast
Water Parameters
pH 6.0–7.5
Propagation Method
Adventitious shoots on flower stalks or division
Origin
South America
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I prune an Echinodorus when it grows too large?
Prune older or overgrown outer leaves individually near the root crown using sharp aquascaping scissors. Avoid cutting across leaf blades, as damaged leaf tips will turn brown rather than regrowing.
2. Can this background plant grow in low-tech aquariums without CO2?
Yes, this species thrives in low-tech aquariums without pressurized CO2, provided it receives adequate root supplementation and consistent lighting.
3. Why are the leaves on my new Echinodorus melting or turning yellow?
Sword plants are often grown emersed and shed their old emersed leaves when submerged to adapt to underwater growth. Keep water parameters stable and supply root tabs near the base to support new leaves.
