Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus"

Chain sword

Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus"

Chain sword

  • Bright light green ground cover
  • Height ca. 5-10 cm
  • Fast growing
  • Not demanding
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Foreground ground cover for aquariums

Foreground ground cover

Foreground group for aquariums

Foreground

Middle ground plant for aquariums

Middle ground

Aquarium plant for nano aquariums

Nano aquarium

Difficulty of the aquarium plant
Difficulty Easy
Growth of the aquarium plant
Growth Fast
Light above the aquarium
Light Medium
Maximum water hardness for this aquarium plant in the aquarium
Water hardness max. Medium
Care height of aquarium plants
Recommended care height 5-10 cm
CO2 in the planted aquarium
CO2 No
Discus in the planted aquarium
Discus suitable Yes

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Description

In the aquarium hobby, relatively small, turf-forming plants have long been known under various names such as Echinodorus quadricostatus, E. magdalenensis and E. xinguensis. These "chain swords" from the Helanthium bolivianum complex originate from tropical Central and South America. As amphibious plants, they colonise periodically flooded banks of rivers, lakes and ponds as well as swampy places. In the terrestrial form they have stalked, lanceolate leaves and small white flowers, in the submerged form they have narrower, almost grass-like leaves.
The plant we offer as Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" has formed a turf about 10 - 13 cm high in our aquariums; Tropica states a growth height of 10 - 15+ cm. The light green, soft underwater leaves are linear-lanceolate and about 8 - 9 mm wide. It spreads rapidly by long chains of runners that creep along the ground, forming a lush, bright green turf.

This ground-covering plant does not require a lot of light, but at least medium light intensity is recommended, as is a good supply of macro and micronutrients. Iron deficiency can quickly lead to pale new leaves. CO2 supply is not always necessary, but is very beneficial for growth. The plant grows well in soft to medium-hard water. Temperatures between around 22 and 28 °C are ideal. The Helanthium species are comparable to the related Echinodorus species and cultivars in terms of their requirements. Individual rosettes of leaves are placed in the substrate at some distance from each other, where they then grow together with their runners to form a lawn. When the lawn has become very dense, it is advisable to thin out and cut off the runners so that the plants do not push each other up. Individual bushes or smaller groups are also possible if the runners are removed regularly.

The Chain sword can be used in a variety of ways as a taller, higher "meadow" or as a group in the foreground to midground of tropical aquariums. The bright green bushes create a lush impression and can also be combined with lower ground cover plants. With its fast growth and low requirements, Helanthium bolivianum "Quadricostatus" is recommended for the initial planting of newly established tanks and for aquarium beginners.

The name "Echinodorus quadricostatus" is a trade name for various varieties of Helanthium bolivianum. In addition, it is also found under further denominations like Echinodorus magdalenensis (= E. quadricostatus var. magdalenensis), E. xinguensis (= E. quadricostatus var. xinguensis), E. bolivianus or "Echinodorus grisebachii" in the trade.
One of these forms only grows to under 5 cm in height when cultivated submersed, which makes it an ideal rapidly growing foreground ground cover. Another variety grows as vigorously, but to a height of over 20 cm.

- To be continued -

Synonyms Echinodorus magdalenensis
Complete botanical name Helánthium boliviánum (Rusby) Lehtonen & Myllys
Family Alismataceae
Genus Helanthium
Difficulty easy
Usage Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group, Foreground, ground cover
Aquascaping forms a grass-like lawn
Growth fast
pH value 5 - 7
Temperature tolerance 10 - 30°C
Carbonate hardness 0 - 14°dKH
General hardness 0 - 30°dGH
Propagation Runners
Can grow emersed? yes
Source Flowgrow
Synonyms
Echinodorus magdalenensis
Complete botanical name
Helánthium boliviánum (Rusby) Lehtonen & Myllys
Family
Alismataceae
Genus
Helanthium
Difficulty
easy
Usage
Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group, Foreground, ground cover
Aquascaping
forms a grass-like lawn
Growth
fast
pH value
5 - 7
Temperature tolerance
10 - 30°C
Carbonate hardness
0 - 14°dKH
General hardness
0 - 30°dGH
Propagation
Runners
Can grow emersed?
yes
Source
Flowgrow

How many plants do I need?

How big is the area to be planted? (cm)

General information

Item no.
EAN
Weight
Shipping weight

Questions and answers about Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus"

You have questions about this product? Ask other customer or our support team about this product!

How does it absorb nutrients, through the leaf or through the root?
Translated from German
Florian S.
Nov. 2024
Sven Breitenbach
Dec. 2024
Support
The plant is quite flexible when it comes to nutrient uptake. It absorbs nutrients through both the roots and the water column, depending on where they are more readily available.
Translated from German
Helpful!
Hello, I have a 54 l aquarium and I'm looking for a foreground plant that will cover the ground and goes well with dwarf corydoras. Is this a good plant? Or do you have other recommendations as well?
Translated from German
Ömer Kaan Y.
Aug. 2026
Sven Breitenbach
Aug. 2026
Support
In general, the plant can also be kept together with Corydoras pygmaeus. However, there should also be enough sand area for the fish to dig around in. Since the plant produces runners, they should be thinned out if growth gets too dense.
Translated from German
Helpful!

Customer reviews

This item has been rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
38 Reviews
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5 Stars(36)
4 Stars(1)
3 Stars(0)
2 Stars(1)
1 Star(0)
Jens K.
very great plant
29th August
Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" - Pot
Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" - Pot

very nice look, shows good growth.

Translated from German
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sehr tolle Pflanze

sehr schöne Optik, legt gutes Wchstum an den Tag.

Nicole B.
Great plants
29th December 2025
Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" - 1-2-GROW!
Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" - 1-2-GROW!

All the plants arrived super fast and even before Christmas. (I thought they would only be shipped in the new year)

Great quality of the plants.

Translated from German
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Tolle Pflanzen

Alle Pflanzen kamen super schnell und sogar noch vor Weihnachten bei mir an. ( Ich dachte es würde erst im euren Jahr verschickt werden)

Tolle Qualität der Pflanzen.

Olaf S.
great
8th December 2025
Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" - Pot
Helanthium bolivianum "quadricostatus" - Pot

Fast delivery and well packed, easy to plant, very satisfied

Translated from German
Show original

super

Schnelle Lieferung und gut Verpackt leicht einzusetzen bin sehr zufrieden

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