Ruffle Sword

The Ruffle Sword (Echinodorus martii / Echinodorus major) is a classic, highly attractive aquarium rosette plant famous for its long, ribbon-like leaves with distinctive heavily ruffled or wavy margins.

Name

• Scientific Name: Echinodorus martii (syn. Echinodorus major)

• Common Names: Ruffle Sword, Ruffled Amazon Sword, Major Sword

Characteristics

• Appearance: Features elongated, bright green to translucent lime-green leaves with pronounced, undulating or crinkled leaf edges that give it a unique "ruffled" texture.

• Size: Medium to large plant, growing 12–20+ inches (30–50+ cm) tall, making it an ideal centerpiece for midground or background placement in medium-to-large tanks.

• Feeding Style: Heavy root feeder—relies heavily on a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs packed with iron and trace minerals for robust growth and thick foliage.

• Growth Rate: Moderate; forms a lush, bushy crown over time.

Temperature

• Ideal Range: 68°F – 82°F (20°C – 28°C)

• Note: Very adaptable and thrives in standard tropical freshwater environments.

Lighting

• Requirement: Moderate to High

• Note: Moderate lighting supports strong growth; higher light keeps the foliage dense and enhances the brightness of its light-green color.

CO2: Not Required.

Propagation

• Method: Adventitious Plantlets (Runners) or Crown Division

• How it works: Mature plants periodically produce long runner stalks that form small daughter plantlets. Once these plantlets develop roots and a few leaves, snip them off and plant them into the substrate. Large parent plants can also be split at the crown during aquascape maintenance.