Echinodorus 'Red Flame'
A large background sword cultivar with deep green leaves splashed in red and copper flecks. Reads as a focal-point specimen plant rather than a mass — one or two crowns are enough in a 200 L tank. Hungry feeder, root tabs are non-optional in inert substrate.
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' (Echinodorus 'Red Flame') is a rosette aquatic plant for the background of a planted tank. It reaches 25–50 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: recommended. Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs. Propagate via adventitious plantlets on flower stalks.
Care at a glance
A large background sword cultivar with deep green leaves splashed in red and copper flecks. Reads as a focal-point specimen plant rather than a mass — one or two crowns are enough in a 200 L tank. Hungry feeder, root tabs are non-optional in inert substrate.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether echinodorus 'red flame' fits in your tank.
Alismataceae
Rosette
Background
Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs
Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks
Selectively bred cultivar (South American parentage)
Selectively bred cultivar (South American parentage)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: recommended. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' (Echinodorus 'Red Flame') needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: background. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs It typically reaches 25–50 cm.
Propagation method: Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks. Echinodorus 'Red Flame' is a rosette plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
