Want a foreground carpet without committing to CO₂ and high light? Dwarf Chain Sword is the forgiving option. Narrow grass-like leaves spread by runner into a soft green lawn, and it asks far less than the demanding carpet plants it replaces.
What You’ll Receive
Sold as small bare-root plant portions in the following pack sizes:
1 Pack: Includes 1 small portion, approximately 2–4 small plants
5 Pack: Includes 5 small portions, each portion approximately 2–4 small plants
10 Pack: Includes 10 small portions, each portion approximately 2–4 small plants
Each portion may vary slightly in size due to natural plant growth and harvesting.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Dwarf Chain Sword
- Scientific name — Helanthium tenellum
- Also known as — Echinodorus tenellus (the older name, still widely used)
- Origin — The Americas, from the southern United States to Argentina
- Placement — Foreground
- Shipped size — Small portions of 2-4 plants, roughly 1-3 in
- Mature height — 2–4 in
- Suits — 5 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Medium
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner. The easiest true carpet plant we sell
- Light — Medium. Brighter light keeps it shorter and more compact
- CO₂ — Recommended, not required! It carpets in a low-tech tank, just more slowly
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5
- Substrate — Required. Root feeder — aquasoil or root tabs make the difference
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Substrate runners
Grower’s Notes
- It spreads by substrate runner, not floral stalk. Unlike the larger Echinodorus swords that throw an arching stalk up through the water, Helanthium sends stolons sideways under the sand and pops new plantlets up beside the parent. That is what makes it a carpet plant rather than a specimen.
- Root tabs are what trigger those runners. In inert gravel it survives but sits still — the single reason a Chain Sword fails to carpet.
- Plant each portion separately, an inch or two apart, and let the runners close the gaps. Planted as one clump, it stays a clump.
- Expect a settling-in period. It often does nothing visible for two to three weeks while it builds roots, then runs quickly.
- Plant the crown at the substrate line, never below it. A buried crown rots.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Helanthium Chain Sword Care Guide.
Notes
- Photos are for reference; portion size and leaf length vary with lighting and nutrients. Some melting or leaf loss during transition is normal.
- 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.
Customers praised these aquarium plants for arriving healthy with "lots of nice green healthy looking plants with lots of roots." Most found them easy to maintain and appreciated generous portions. However, some shoppers noted plants were smaller than expected with underdeveloped root systems, making them difficult to plant in substrate.
- Lots of nice green healthy looking plants with lots of roots. Responding well in my tank.
- Started growing and shooting out runners a half an inch each day in only gravel substrate.
- Super high quality and a TON of it too!
M
Extremely small not like picture at all
J
Helanthium Tenellum (Dwarf Chain Sword)
P
I love all the plants I bought.i have 3 20 gallon aquariums. They are going to look great in them. Definitely buying more.
R
I can not wait to add these lovely plants to my aquarium.
P
Arrived quickly and packaged well. Lots of nice green healthy looking plants with lots of roots. Responding well in my tank.
G
Very healthy quality. It sat there for three weeks and then suddenly started growing and shooting out runners a half an inch each day in only gravel substrate newly cycled, no CO2. Very satisfied.
M
Just like the picture
A
Helanthium Tenellum (Dwarf Chain Sword)
C
Plants came in healthy.
B
Ordered 20+ various plants and the dwarf chain sword was by far were the biggest disappointment. While the plants arrived green, they were unusable in any type of course substrate. They are quarter inch tall runners with no established root system and too small to plant. I am going to try floating them for now with liquid fertilizer in hope a root system starts to grow. Just not fun getting a plants you cant add to your aqua scape. These also applied as my free plants in the buy 2 get 1 free deal, so now it feels like I never really got the promotion.
B
Ordered 20+ various plants and the dwarf chain sword was by far were the biggest disappointment. While the plants arrived green, they were unusable in any type of course substrate. They are quarter inch tall runners with no established root system and too small to plant. I am going to try floating them for now with liquid fertilizer in hope a root system starts to grow. Just not fun getting a plants you cant add to your aqua scape. These also applied as my free plants in the buy 2 get 1 free deal, so now it feels like I never really got the promotion.
M
I’m all around satisfied with this purchase. There was a good amount of plants to fill the front area of my 29 gallon aquarium. I will buy from this seller again.
w
One reason I purchased these plants was for their easy maintenance. The arrived alive and I was able to rinse them and put them in the tank right away.
W
Very generous portions which were shipped promptly and packaged securely. The plants arrived in excellent shape.
K
I found these a bit hard to plant as they are small and tended to float up out of the substrate. That said, once anchored they have done very well. Look a bit like an upside down spider plant, with the 'babies' growing up instead of hanging down.
S
Helanthium Tenellum (Dwarf Chain Sword)
C
amazing clumps of this lower tech carpeting plant that produces runners! super high quality and a TON of it too
G
All the plants arrived in excellent shape. Looks great in my tank!
B
Awesome little plants
R
Purchased 14 plants, moss, grasses and all arrived healthy. Great value. I would suggest on each plants page that plants care requirements and planting, etc. Though, this information is readily available on other sites.
D
Couldn't be more pleased with quality quality of the plants
A
Nice amount, well developed and strong root system, came in great shape
G
Plants were in excellent shape again.this was the second buy from aquarium plant factory.the first was excellent .my son saw the order and was impressed.so I reordered forhim .he was very pleased.every one I know will know about the quality of the plants and service.great place to buy plants..this order was only shain swords.last week was chain swords ,anubias minima and dwarf sag. All exelent! When I was told day plants would arrive .exactly on time.
J
Filled in nicely
J
This plant arrived well packaged and healthy, displaying great color and healthy roots. I was actually not expecting as large a portion as I received so was very happy. I will be buying plants from Aquarium Plants Factory when I need them due to great prices and having received great plants.
D
These arrived in great shape, along with everything else in my order. Very satisfied overall!
J
Arrived in great shape, well packaged. Very nice roots and lovely little plants. This was a great buying experience and will absolutely buy from APF again!
M
How many plants are included in this bare root plant order? Is it just one plant or are they several plants connected by runners?
Approx. a few small plants
M
How many of these should be bought to cover a 75gal tank as a carpet?
A lot! 85 gal can fill hundred of this plant. But i recommended start around only 20~40 portion to test to see how they grow, you can always add more later. Once they adapted and rooted, they actually grow out quickly.
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