Echinodorus Rainbow

Most sword plants give you one color. Echinodorus 'Rainbow' gives you marbled leaves running white, pale green, yellow, pink and red on the same plant — a hybrid derived from Echinodorus cordifolius 'Harbich Red'. It grows slowly and feeds heavily at the roots, so what it asks for is patience and a well-fed substrate rather than difficulty.

What You'll Receive

Sold as loose bare-root plants, bunched plants, or potted plants:

• Fresh-Cut Plants: Approximately 1 individual bare-root plants
• Bunched Plants: Approximately 1 plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
• Potted Plants: Approximately 1 plants rooted in rockwool and net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Rainbow Sword
• Scientific name — Echinodorus 'Rainbow'
• Also known as — Dwarf Rainbow Sword
• Parentage — Derived from Echinodorus cordifolius 'Harbich Red'
• Placement — Midground to background
• Mature height — 10–16 in
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high
• CO₂ — Recommended
• Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5
• Substrate — Required. Heavy root feeder — nutrient substrate and root tabs
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
• Propagation — Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks

Grower's Notes

• Root tabs are not optional. This is a heavy root feeder — it takes almost everything it needs from the substrate. In inert gravel with liquid dosing alone it stalls and the colors wash out, and people mistake that for the plant being difficult.
• Slow growth is normal. Rainbow is not a fast sword. Expect a few leaves a season, not a flush of new growth every month — which is also why it stays in proportion in a mid-sized tank.
• Variegation can revert. Under weak light or thin feeding a marbled plant will often start pushing plain green leaves. Steady light and root feeding are what hold the color.
• It propagates from flower stalks, not runners. A settled plant sends up an inflorescence carrying plantlets along its length. Let each grow roots and three or four leaves before cutting it free.
• Expect the first set of leaves to melt as it converts from emersed growth. Leave the crown planted — at substrate level, never below — and wait for the second flush, which shows the real colors.

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

Notes

• Some leaf melt may occur as the plant transitions from emersed to submerged growth. New leaves will adapt and thrive under proper conditions.
• 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.