Echinodorus floridanus

Echinodorus floridanus is endemic to the southeastern United States, particularly Florida, where it grows in the clear, cool-to-warm springs and river margins of the region. In the aquarium it produces broad, ovate, dark-green leaves on long petioles, forming a substantial rosette reaching 30–50 cm. The leaf colour is a deep, saturated green and the texture is firm and glossy, giving the plant a refined appearance compared to some of its tropical relatives.

As a temperate-to-subtropical species, E. floridanus is tolerant of cooler water and adapts well to a wide range of temperatures, from around 18°C up to 28°C. It performs admirably in North American biotope aquariums alongside native fish species or in community tanks seeking a different geographical flavour. It is an excellent alternative to E. bleheri for aquarists wanting a large background sword with a native North American origin.

Its culture is straightforward: it is a heavy root feeder that grows steadily with regular root tab supplementation and is otherwise undemanding in terms of lighting and water chemistry.

Light: Medium (35–60 PAR); tolerates slightly lower light with reduced growth rate. CO2: Not required; optional for larger leaf development. Fertilisation: Root tabs every 3 months; liquid all-in-one fertiliser weekly. Placement: Background; plant singly or in small groups; keep crown exposed above substrate. Propagation: Produces daughter plants on flower stalks — remove once roots are developed.