Amazon Sword

Native to the Amazon basin and broader South America, this is one of the most iconic aquarium plants around. A massive rosette of long, lance-shaped leaves radiates outward from a central crown, and a single mature specimen can easily dominate the back half of a tank. Colors range from bright green to slightly olive depending on lighting and nutrient levels.

One thing to know upfront: "Amazon Sword" is really a catch-all name applied to several Echinodorus species, so what you buy at one shop might behave noticeably differently from what you got at another. Most stay manageable in a 200-liter tank, but some will push leaves straight to the surface and beyond if conditions are right.

Propagation happens via runners that emerge from flowering stems, producing small plantlets you can sever and replant once they develop a few roots. Root tabs are genuinely important here since this plant feeds heavily through its roots, not the water column. CO2 isn't strictly required but you'll see faster, lusher growth with it.

Check out community tank builds to see just how dramatic a well-grown sword can look as a centerpiece.