PlantRosette

Helanthium 'Vesuvius'

Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'

Selectively bred cultivar (sport of H. bolivianum, South American parentage)Easy

TL;DR, Helanthium 'Vesuvius'

A twisted-leaf sport of Helanthium bolivianum (often still sold under its old Echinodorus angustifolius name) — every blade spirals as it grows, giving the rosette a sculptural quality you don't get from straight-leaved species. Sends runners across the substrate and forms a midground colony over months. Tolerant of low-tech setups.

Helanthium 'Vesuvius' (Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius') is a rosette aquatic plant for the midground of a planted tank. It reaches 10–20 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: optional. Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs. Propagate via runners — sends out new plantlets.

LightMedium to High
CO₂Optional

Care at a glance

Updated 19 May 20261 min read

Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.

Leaves yellowing, pitting, or new growth coming in pale or twisted? Work out what it’s short of in our plant deficiency guide.

Tank fit

The parameters that decide whether helanthium 'vesuvius' fits in your tank.

Parameters

Temperature22–28 °C

15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C

pH6.0–7.5

4.05.06.07.08.0

Hardness2–15 dGH

0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH

Height10–20 cm

020406080

LightMedium to High

Low

Medium

High

CO₂Optional

None

Optional

Recommended

Required

GrowthMedium

Slow

Medium

Fast

V. fast

FlowLow to Medium

Still

Low

Medium

High

V. high

Profile

Family

Alismataceae

Type

Rosette

Position

Midground

Substrate

Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs

Propagation

Runners — sends out new plantlets

Habitat

Selectively bred cultivar (sport of H. bolivianum, South American parentage)

Kit for this plant

Who it lives with

Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.

Weighing it against something similar? Compare Helanthium 'Vesuvius' head to head:

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.

Does Helanthium 'Vesuvius' need CO₂?

CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.

What light level does Helanthium 'Vesuvius' need?

Helanthium 'Vesuvius' (Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius') needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.

Where should Helanthium 'Vesuvius' be planted?

Position: midground. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs It typically reaches 10–20 cm.

How do you propagate Helanthium 'Vesuvius'?

Propagation method: Runners — sends out new plantlets. Helanthium 'Vesuvius' is a rosette plant.

What water parameters does Helanthium 'Vesuvius' tolerate?

Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.

Is Helanthium 'Vesuvius' suitable for beginners?

Difficulty: 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled.

Sources & further reading

More plants

Adjacent specimens in the catalogue.

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Anubias barteri var. nana

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BeginnerWest Africa (Cameroon)