Echinodorus cordifolius

Native to North and Central America (Mexico through the southeastern United States), Echinodorus cordifolius grows in marshes and along river banks. Its broadly heart-shaped leaves are marbled with irregular white and pale-green variegation on a rich green background — a pattern that intensifies under good lighting. In the aquarium it grows into a large, imposing rosette up to 50 cm tall, best suited to spacious tanks. It tolerates a wide temperature range and adapts to hard or soft water with equal ease.

Light: Medium to high (40–70 PAR); variegation is brightest under high light. CO2: Not required; CO2 injection enhances leaf size and colour. Fertiliser: Root tabs every 3 months; liquid fertiliser with balanced NPK and iron weekly. Planting: Best as a solitary specimen in the background; keep crown above substrate; leave ample surrounding space. Growth: Reaches 30–50 cm; will grow emersed and flower if not trimmed — cut emergent leaves at the petiole base.