Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Tropica Marble Queen’

Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Tropica Marble Queen’ is a variegated form of Echinodorus cordifolius, also known as the Creeping Burhead or “Radican Sword.” It has longish ovate leaves with a heart-shaped base that have a pattern of darker and lighter green, as well as reddish patches. This variegation is more noticeable in emersed leaves than in submerged leaves. The emersed plant can reach a height of 50 cm, whereas the underwater stage has shorter leaves and petioles. The leaf blades grow to be about 20 cm long. This Echinodorus is a simple and quick-growing aquarium plant. It can tolerate hard and alkaline water, but it prefers a nutrient-rich substrate and at least medium light intensity. It has a proclivity to emerge from the water with long-stalked aerial leaves. When these are removed, shorter stalked submerged leaves may appear, but a fully grown, strong plant will eventually develop emersed foliage. If this is not desired, a young plant should be substituted. Inflorescences with adventitious plantlets, on the other hand, are mostly found on emersed specimens. The showy, large swordplant Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Tropica Marble Queen’ can be used as a solitary plant in the background to midground of larger tanks. Its proclivity to grow out of the water makes it ideal for open aquariums and tall paludariums, where its variegated leaves and long, arching inflorescences with white flowers draw attention.

Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Tropica Marble Queen’ is an excellent aquarium plant because the Marble Queen Sword (as it is more commonly known) can withstand a wide range of environmental conditions. Lighting intensities for Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Tropica Marble Queen’ can range from low to high, with higher intensities producing the best colour. Marble Queen Radican swords can grow to be quite large, so place them in the background of your aquarium. The large bright green and white splashed leaves of Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Tropica Marble Queen’ are the plant’s main attraction. Beginner aquariums benefit greatly from Marble Queen sword plants.