Amazon Sword Plant Care

Amazon Sword (Echinodorus berteroi) belongs to the Alismataceae family within the Echinodorus genus. Amazon Sword is native to the southern and central parts of the United States, as well as Central America, the West Indies, and South America as far south as Argentina.

Amazon Sword displays a rosette-forming aquatic plant growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Amazon Sword produces white or yellow emergent flowers above water.

Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Amazon Sword every 3–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Amazon Sword thrives in moderate to high indirect light. Avoid placing Amazon Sword in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Echinodorus berteroi tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F. Amazon Sword prefers humidity levels of 60–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Rich, loamy soil with good moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Amazon Sword to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Amazon Sword every 2 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with moderate to high indirect light and rich, loamy soil with good moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Amazon Sword is suited to USDA Zone 5a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Amazon Sword can spread to about 1 ft (0.2 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Amazon Sword while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Amazon Sword is hardy down to USDA zone 5a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Amazon Sword can be propagated through division of rhizomes, plantlets.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Amazon Sword is susceptible to aphids, snails, slugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Amazon Sword grows outdoors in USDA Zone 5a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 5a. Amazon Sword is native to the southern and central parts of the United States, as well as Central America, the West Indies, and South America as far south as Argentina.