Dennerle Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Harbich Red’

Description

Info

‘Harbich Red’ stays much smaller than the original form of E. cordifolius. Emersed leaves are round with hairs on the leaf blades; submersed leaves in aquariums are much narrower. This variety is very robust and has firm, solid leaves. The pedicels develop a lot of adventitious plantlets, although these can develop properly only in open aquariums. The name ‘Harbich Red’ refers to the reddish color of new leaves, which turn green over time.

Plant Profile

Genus:
Echinodorus

Species:
cordifolius ‘Harbich Red’

Family:
Alismataceae

Origin:
Cultivar

Light:
high – medium

Temperature:
22-28°C

Growth rate:
moderate

Area:
Middleground

Height:
up to 40 cm

pH:
5-8

Water hardness:
very soft to hard

Co2:
20-30 mg/l

Propagation:
adventitious plantlets on the pedicel

Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Harbich Red’ for SG midground colour

‘Harbich Red’ is a more manageable cordifolius selection, staying smaller than the wild form and pushing reddish new leaves that mature to green, giving you a shifting two-tone look in the midground. It is a robust variety with firm, solid leaves, which makes it a forgiving choice for hobbyists building a planted tank in a typical HDB or condo space. At our ambient 27-29C it runs heaterless throughout the year.

The submerged leaves you grow will be narrower than the rounded emersed ones it arrives with, so do not be surprised by the change in shape underwater. Like all swords it feeds heavily through the roots, so we bed it into a nutrient substrate and add root tabs. Higher light and a steady CO2 supply bring out the strongest red flushes and keep growth compact, though it remains adaptable in lower-tech setups.

Read our Amazon sword care guide and our plant melting stages guide in case leaves drop after transfer. Explore more in our background plants range.