Plant comparison
Amazon Sword vs Green Cabomba
How the Amazon Sword and Green Cabomba compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which plant suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Amazon Sword vs Green Cabomba
The Amazon Sword and the Green Cabomba come up together a lot when people are choosing a plant, and they are close enough to weigh side by side. Both are happy somewhere around 22 to 26 °C and pH 6.5 to 7.5, so a single tank can suit either one. Neither is harder than the other to keep, so the choice comes down to look and stocking rather than skill. In a low-tech, low-light setup the Amazon Sword is the safer bet; the other really wants brighter light to look its best.
Group compatibility overview
Excellent fit
Every key parameter overlaps and no major conflicts surfaced.
1 note
Temperature
- Amazon Sword22–28 °C
- Green Cabomba18–26 °C
pH
- Amazon Sword6.5–7.5
- Green Cabomba5.5–7.5
Hardness
- Amazon Sword3–18 dGH
- Green Cabomba2–15 dGH
What to plan for
- Green Cabomba is regulatedGreen Cabomba is banned or listed as invasive in several US states and parts of Australia / South Africa. Check local rules before sourcing.
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  PlantAmazon SwordEchinodorus grisebachii |  PlantGreen CabombaCabomba caroliniana |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Plant | Plant |
| Origin | Brazil | Eastern North America to South America |
| Family | Alismataceae | Cabombaceae |
| Temperature | 22–28 °C | 18–26 °C |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 5.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 3–18 | 2–15 |
| Flow rate | Low to Medium | Low to Medium |
| Max height | 40–50 cm | 30–80 cm |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| Light | Low to Medium | Medium to High |
| CO₂ | Optional | Recommended |
| Growth rate | Medium to Fast | Fast |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Amazon Sword and Green Cabomba together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 22 to 26 °C and pH 6.5 to 7.5, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Amazon Sword or the Green Cabomba?
They sit at the same care level, both beginner-friendly, so neither is the obvious beginner pick. The decision is really about the look you're after.
Do Amazon Sword and Green Cabomba need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 22 to 26 °C and pH 6.5 to 7.5 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Amazon Sword and the Green Cabomba?
Placement and light. The Amazon Sword works as background, the Green Cabomba as background, and their light needs differ, which is covered in the table.