Echinodorus Small Bear

Echinodorus 'Small Bear' arrives green and turns red. Grown emersed in the nursery it looks like an ordinary sword; a few days under water and the new leaves come in rust red, deepening toward burgundy as the plant settles. It is a compact rosette, so you get sword-plant color without sword-plant bulk.

What You'll Receive

• Sold as emerged small Bare-root Plants or Potted plants
• Bare-root plants | one small size, loose rooted plants
• Potted plants | one rooted small size plant, potted with net pot and rockwool

Plant Profile

• Common name — Small Bear Sword
• Scientific name — Echinodorus 'Small Bear'
• Also known as — Echinodorus Small Bear
• Origin — Cultivated hybrid; parent species from South America
• Placement — Midground
• Mature height — 6-10 inches
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Medium
• CO₂ — Not required
• 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

• It ships green on purpose. Nursery stock is grown above water where the leaves are plain green. The red appears on submersed growth within days of planting, so judge it on the new leaves rather than the ones in the pot.
• Root tabs are what hold the color. Swords feed through their roots almost entirely. Without a fertilized root zone Small Bear grows, but pale and slowly — liquid dosing alone does not do it.
• Never bury the crown. Cover the roots and leave the growing point at substrate level. A buried crown rots from the center and the plant does not recover.
• A red centerpiece that fits a small tank. At six to ten inches it gives the color of a full-size red sword in a tank that could not house one. That is the reason to choose this variety.
• Trim the oldest outer leaves. Swords continuously shed from the outside as new leaves push from the center. Cutting yellowing outer leaves at the base keeps the rosette tidy.

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

Notes

• Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge.
• 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.