Helanthium tenellum 'Vesuvius'
A twisted-leaf cultivar of the chain sword — 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 tenellum '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.
Care at a glance
A twisted-leaf cultivar of the chain sword — 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.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether helanthium 'vesuvius' fits in your tank.
Alismataceae
Rosette
Midground
Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs
Runners — sends out new plantlets
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: optional. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.
Helanthium 'Vesuvius' (Helanthium tenellum 'Vesuvius') needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: midground. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs It typically reaches 10–20 cm.
Propagation method: Runners — sends out new plantlets. Helanthium 'Vesuvius' is a rosette plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, 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.
