Plant comparison
Amazon Sword vs Taiwan Moss Lily
How the Amazon Sword and Taiwan Moss Lily compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which plant suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Amazon Sword vs Taiwan Moss Lily
The Amazon Sword and the Taiwan Moss Lily 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 28 °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.
Temperature
- Amazon Sword22–28 °C
- Taiwan Moss Lily22–28 °C
pH
- Amazon Sword6.5–7.5
- Taiwan Moss Lily6–7.5
Hardness
- Amazon Sword3–18 dGH
- Taiwan Moss Lily5–15 dGH
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  PlantAmazon SwordEchinodorus grisebachii |  PlantTaiwan Moss LilyNymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan' |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Plant | Plant |
| Origin | Brazil | Cultivar (Asian parentage) |
| Family | Alismataceae | Menyanthaceae |
| Temperature | 22–28 °C | 22–28 °C |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6.0–7.5 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 3–18 | 5–15 |
| Flow rate | Low to Medium | Low |
| Max height | 40–50 cm | 10–25 cm |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| Light | Low to Medium | Medium to High |
| CO₂ | Optional | Optional |
| Growth rate | Medium to Fast | Medium |
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 Taiwan Moss Lily together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 22 to 28 °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 Taiwan Moss Lily?
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 Taiwan Moss Lily need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 22 to 28 °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 Taiwan Moss Lily?
Placement and light. The Amazon Sword works as background, the Taiwan Moss Lily as midground, and their light needs differ, which is covered in the table.