Amazon Sword light requirements

Plant

Amazon Sword

Echinodorus grisebachii (listed by World Flora Online as Aquarius grisebachii; commonly sold under E. bleheri names)

Type: indoor
Difficulty: Easy
Pet safety: Toxic to

Quick care

Light: Low to medium aquarium lighting
Water: Amazon Sword is an aquatic aquarium plant, not a potted houseplant. Keep its roots submerged in freshwater and maintain a stable tank environment suited to the fish and invertebrates sharing the aquarium. It does not need separate top-watering; routine aquarium top-offs and water changes should follow the needs of the whole tank.
Soil: Use aquarium-safe planted substrate or fine-to-medium gravel with aquarium root tabs. Plant the roots into the substrate but leave the central crown at or just above the surface; do not bury the crown or use ordinary potting soil.

Care guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I care for Amazon Sword?

See the full Amazon Sword care cluster for species-specific light guidance.

How this Amazon Sword light guide is reviewed?

Editorial policy Review board

Written by · Reviewed by LeafyPixels Review Board

This Amazon Sword light guide was researched and written by . Light guidance, practical checks, and care recommendations for Amazon Sword are checked against multiple independent references before publication.

We prioritize sources that hold up under scrutiny:

University cooperative extension bulletins and fact sheets (Penn State, Clemson, UMD, NC State, and similar programs)
Botanical garden and horticultural society publications
Peer-reviewed plant science and veterinary toxicology references where pet safety matters (including ASPCA Animal Poison Control)
Established reference works on indoor plant culture

The LeafyPixels editorial team then reviews the draft for clarity, step-by-step usefulness, and fit with real apartment and home conditions-not ideal greenhouse setups. When guidance changes materially, we update the page and note the revision date.

Sources used

Aquariadise (n.d.) Amazon Sword Care Guide. [Online]. Available at: https://www.aquariadise.com/growing-amazon-sword-echinodorus-bleheri/ (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
Aquarium Co-Op (n.d.) How Do I Plant My Amazon Sword or Other Sword Plant?. [Online]. Available at: https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/faqs/how-to-plant-swords (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
Aqueon (n.d.) Aquatic Plant Basics. [Online]. Available at: https://www.aqueon.com/resources/care-guides/aquatic-plant-basics (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (n.d.) Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. [Online]. Available at: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (n.d.) Horse Plant List. [Online]. Available at: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/horse-plant-list (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
House Rabbit Society (n.d.) Poisonous Plants. [Online]. Available at: https://rabbit.org/health/poisonous-plants/ (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
Shrimp and Snail Breeder (n.d.) Amazon Sword Plant Care Guide. [Online]. Available at: https://aquariumbreeder.com/amazon-sword-plant-care-guide-planting-growing-and-propagation/ (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
Tropica Aquarium Plants (n.d.) Echinodorus grisebachii 'Bleherae'. [Online]. Available at: https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/4512/4512 (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
Tropica Aquarium Plants (n.d.) Echinodorus grisebachii 'Tropica'. [Online]. Available at: https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/?id=29741 (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
VCA Animal Hospitals (n.d.) Plants Safe for Birds. [Online]. Available at: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/plants-safe-for-birds (Accessed: 1 March 2024).
World Flora Online (n.d.) Echinodorus grisebachii. [Online]. Available at: https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000766410 (Accessed: 1 March 2024).