Helanthium Vesuvius (Twisted Chain Sword)

Vallisneria with a twist — literally. Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius' grows narrow ribbon leaves, roughly 4 mm wide, that spiral tightly as they rise from a low rosette. Selected from a mutation of H. bolivianum 'Angustifolius' at the Oriental nursery in Singapore and in the trade since 2006.

What You'll Receive

Enhance your aquarium with our fresh, high-quality plants, available in convenient formats:

• Loose Bare-Root Plants: Includes approximately 1–2 loose, bare-root plants, providing flexibility in planting and arrangement.
• Rooted Bunched: Approximately 1–2 plants, bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy placement.
• Rooted Potted: Includes approximately 1–2 plants, potted in a net pot with rock wool, ensuring stability and ease of placement in your aquarium.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Vesuvius Twisted Chain Sword, also known as Corkscrew Sword
• Scientific name — Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'
• Also known as — Echinodorus 'Vesuvius' (the older name)
• Origin — Cultivated selection, Singapore; the species is native to South America
• Placement — Foreground
• Mature height — 3-6 inches
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Medium
• CO₂ — Recommended, not required
• Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — fine gravel, sand or aquasoil with root tabs.
• Growth habit — Amphibious rosette; also grows emersed
• Propagation — Runners. Unlike the true Echinodorus swords, chain swords genuinely do spread under the substrate.

Grower's Notes

• It arrives straight and twists later. We grow it emersed, where the leaves are broader, shorter and barely curled. The tight spiral only develops on submerged growth — so the plant in the bag will not look like the photograph, and that is expected.
• This one really does send runners. Chain swords are Helanthium, not Echinodorus: they spread under the substrate, rooting daughter rosettes a few inches from the parent. Leave each runner attached until the daughter has its own roots, then lift and move it.
• Feed the roots. Root tabs or aquasoil under the planting area do far more than liquid dosing for a plant that feeds this way.
• Use it where the movement shows. The spiral reads as motion in open water or gentle flow. Crowded between broad-leaved plants the effect disappears and a plain chain sword would do the same job.
• Expect emersed leaves to melt back. Remove them once they yellow — it encourages the submerged rosette to fill in faster.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Helanthium Chain Sword Care Guide.

Notes

This plant is shipped in its emersed form. Upon submersion, the leaves will gradually transition into their final form—narrow, upright, and tightly twisted. Older emersed leaves may melt back, which is normal. Remove any unsightly leaves to encourage healthy submerged growth.

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.