Echinodorus Aflame Vitro Culture (Purple Knight Sword)

Echinodorus 'Aflame' is a sword plant that skips the green stage. New leaves emerge burgundy and darken toward purple-black as they harden, held in an upright rosette rather than the sprawling form most swords take. It gives a planted tank a red centerpiece without a single stem plant.

What You'll Receive

• You will receive one sealed 4-inch Vitro Culture bag containing approximately 3–4 young Echinodorus Aflame plantlets

Plant Profile

• Common name — Purple Knight Sword
• Scientific name — Echinodorus 'Aflame'
• Also known as — Aflame Sword
• Origin — Cultivated hybrid; parent species from South America
• Placement — Midground to background
• Mature height — 10-16 inches
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high
• CO₂ — Recommended
• Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5
• Substrate — Nutrient-rich soil or root tabs; this is a root feeder
• Growth habit — Amphibious rosette
• Propagation — Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks

Grower's Notes

• Root tabs are what produce the color. Swords take nearly all their nutrition from the substrate. Water column dosing alone gives you a pale, slow Aflame; a fertilized root zone gives you the burgundy the plant is bought for.
• Never bury the crown. The growing point at the center of the rosette must sit at substrate level. Covered, it rots — the leaves go first and the plant does not come back.
• Plantlets arrive green. Tissue culture stock is grown under conditions that favor growth over pigment. Red and purple develop as the plant establishes under your lighting, usually over the first month or two.
• It propagates from flower stalks, not runners. A mature Aflame sends up an inflorescence that produces daughter plants along its length. Let each grow roots and two or three leaves before cutting it free.
• Old outer leaves are meant to be removed. Swords continuously shed their oldest leaves as new ones emerge from the center. Cutting yellowing outer leaves at the base keeps the rosette tidy and stops them fouling the water.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Amazon Sword & Echinodorus Care Guide.

Notes

• Plant coloration may vary based on lighting, nutrients, and CO₂ levels. Initial growth may appear greenish and gradually develop intense red or purple hues. Avoid burying the rosette crown to prevent rot.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.