Echinodorus Red Chameleon

Echinodorus Red Chameleon is a color-shifting hybrid sword plant whose leaves transition dynamically from green to deep red depending on light intensity and nutrient levels. The dramatic green-to-deep-red color shift is more pronounced than the Green Chameleon cultivar — under strong lighting with good nutrition Red Chameleon can develop vivid, deeply saturated red tones that create a powerful warm midground to background focal point.

Care tip: Echinodorus Red Chameleon is a root feeder that benefits greatly from a nutrient-rich substrate or regular root tabs. Maintain temperatures of 72–82°F and pH 6.5–7.5. CO₂ is optional for this variety.

Growing to 12 to 18 inches, Red Chameleon is a midground to background plant for medium and larger aquariums. Root feeding and strong lighting together produce the deepest red expression — both are important for maximum color development. Under lower light or inadequate nutrition the plant stays predominantly green, shifting progressively toward red as conditions improve.

This moderate plant grows in moderate to high lighting with CO₂ optional. Temperatures between 72 and 82°F and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 provide comfortable conditions. Regular root feeding is the most effective investment for deeper red expression. The color shift is most dramatic in established plants with well-developed root systems under good lighting.

In the aquascape, Echinodorus Red Chameleon creates a dynamically color-shifting midground to background presence that serves simultaneously as a color indicator and a visual centerpiece. The deep red under strong lighting creates powerful warm contrast; the green in lower light provides a natural, understated background presence. As the chart notes it is a great centerpiece — the shifting color creates an ever-changing botanical narrative.

Echinodorus Red Chameleon is a dynamically red-shifting hybrid sword for aquarists who want vivid condition-responsive color in a midground to background plant. Its dramatic green-to-deep-red transition and moderate care requirements make it a naturally engaging and rewarding planted aquarium centerpiece.

Care & Specifications