Description
Frans Stoffels Sword for Sale — Striking Maroon-Blush New Growth and Fast Performance
If you’ve been searching for Frans Stoffels Sword for sale, Quinn’s Fins grows Echinodorus ‘Frans Stoffels’ right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse. Frans Stoffels Sword is one of the most visually dynamic and immediately captivating aquarium sword plants available — a hybrid cultivar developed by Thomas Kaliebe of Germany that delivers something genuinely unique in the planted aquarium hobby: wide, slightly undulating light green leaves that emerge with a dramatic maroon blush on all new growth, gradually transitioning to rich deep green as each leaf matures. This means every new leaf on a Frans Stoffels Sword is a small visual event — the maroon-flushed new growth emerging from the crown and slowly greening out over days and weeks creates a plant that is constantly renewing its visual interest in the aquascape. Frans Stoffels Sword for sale at Quinn’s Fins is available in two formats — bare root (SKU 6109-3, $7.99) and in a 2″ pot (SKU 6109-2, $12.99) — both nursery-grown and ready to plant.
Why Frans Stoffels Sword for Sale Is a Standout Background Sword Plant
Frans Stoffels Sword occupies a unique niche in the aquarium sword plant catalog — a fast-growing, easy-care background plant with a visual character that standard green sword varieties simply cannot replicate.
- Wide slightly undulating light green leaves — broad, lush background presence with natural movement and texture
- Striking maroon blush on all new leaves — each new leaf emerges colored before transitioning to deep green as it matures
- Fast grower — reaches 12″+ in submerged form quickly under good conditions
- Flowers both submerged and emersed — large delicate white flowers on tall emersed stalks; adventitious plantlets form quickly after flowering
- Beginner-friendly — easy care level, tolerates a wide range of water parameters
- No CO2 injection required — thrives in low-tech setups
- Heavy root feeder — rewards nutrient-rich substrate and root tabs with vigorous growth
- Safe for fish, shrimp, and all freshwater invertebrates
Growing Frans Stoffels Sword — Care at a Glance
The Maroon Color Journey — What to Expect
Frans Stoffels Sword’s most distinctive characteristic is its new leaf coloration. Every leaf that emerges from the crown arrives with a warm maroon to reddish-purple blush across the leaf surface and veining — in the emersed form, green leaves with bold maroon veins wider than the vein itself give the plant a dramatic striped appearance. In the submerged aquarium form, new leaves show a maroon blush that gradually fades to light green and then deep green as the leaf reaches full maturity. This color transition is natural and expected — do not mistake maturing leaves losing their maroon color for a sign of poor health. It is the plant performing exactly as its genetics intend.
Substrate — The Primary Growth Variable
Frans Stoffels Sword is a heavy root feeder — substrate quality is the single most impactful variable in its growth rate and overall vigor. In nutrient-rich aquarium soil (ADA Aqua Soil, Fluval Stratum, or similar), this fast-growing plant establishes and pushes new leaves rapidly. In inert gravel or sand, root tabs placed directly beneath the plant and refreshed every 2–3 months are essential. Plant with roots spread downward and the crown just at or slightly above the substrate surface — never bury the crown.
Light
Frans Stoffels Sword performs best in moderate to high lighting. Moderate light produces healthy, lush green growth. Higher light accelerates growth and may intensify the maroon blush color on new leaves. In low light, growth slows significantly and the maroon coloration on new leaves is less vivid — moderate light is the recommended minimum for best performance and most vivid color expression.
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C)
- pH: 6.5–7.5
- Hardness: 0–21 dKH — soft to moderately hard; highly adaptable
- Flow: Low to moderate
CO2 & Fertilization
CO2 injection is not required. Regular liquid fertilizer supplementation — particularly iron, nitrogen, and potassium — supports vigorous growth and vivid new leaf coloration. Iron supplementation specifically maintains the maroon and red tones on new growth that makes Frans Stoffels Sword so visually distinctive. Root tabs are the most effective fertilization delivery method for this heavy root feeder.
Flowering and Propagation
Frans Stoffels Sword flowers readily in both submerged and emersed conditions — one of its most rewarding characteristics. In submerged aquariums, tall flower stalks rise above the water surface bearing large, delicate white flowers. Adventitious plantlets develop quickly on these stalks and can be harvested once they have developed their own leaves and roots. In emersed or open-top conditions the plant flowers even more prolifically, making it one of the most productive sword plants for plantlet propagation. The plant can also be propagated by rhizome division.
Maintenance
Remove older outer leaves at the base as new leaves develop from the center — this keeps the rosette fresh, redirects energy to new growth, and maintains the visual impact of the maroon new-leaf color cycle. Frans Stoffels Sword grows quickly under good conditions — in medium to large aquariums allow it to develop freely; in smaller tanks trim outer leaves periodically to manage size.
Two Ways to Buy Frans Stoffels Sword for Sale at Quinn’s Fins
Frans Stoffels Sword for sale at Quinn’s Fins is available in two formats:
- Bare Root (SKU 6109-1) — $7.99: A healthy rooted plant shipped without substrate. Trim any damaged roots before planting, rinse thoroughly, and plant directly into your aquarium substrate with roots spread downward and crown above the substrate surface.
- 2″ Pot (SKU 6109-2) — $12.99: Nursery-grown in a 2″ pot with established root structure. Remove the plant and all growing media before planting. Never place the pot or growing media directly in the aquarium. Rinse roots thoroughly after removal.
Nursery-Grown at Quinn’s Fins
Every Frans Stoffels Sword for sale at Quinn’s Fins is grown right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse — not drop-shipped or bulk-sourced. We grow what we sell.
For more on growing Frans Stoffels Sword and other aquarium plants, visit the Pond Informer’s aquarium plant care guides or browse our full selection of aquatic plants at Quinn’s Fins.
Frans Stoffels Sword Plant Details
| Botanical Name | Echinodorus ‘Frans Stoffels’ |
| Common Name | Frans Stoffels Sword, Frans Stoffels Sword Plant |
| Hybrid Origin | Developed by Thomas Kaliebe, Germany |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Height | 12″+ in submerged form |
| New Leaf Color | Maroon blush — fades to deep green as leaf matures |
| Mature Leaf Color | Wide, light to deep green with slight undulation |
| Growth Rate | Fast — one of the faster-growing sword cultivars |
| Light Requirement | Moderate to high; minimum moderate for best color |
| CO2 | Not required; improves growth if used |
| Temperature | 68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness | 0–21 dKH — soft to moderately hard |
| Substrate | Nutrient-rich preferred; root tabs in inert substrate |
| Placement | Background — 29+ gallon tanks recommended |
| Flowering | Yes — submerged and emersed; large white flowers; produces plantlets |
| Propagation | Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks; rhizome division |
| Fish & Shrimp Safe | Yes |
| Difficulty | Easy — beginner-friendly |
| Bare Root | SKU 6109-1 — $7.99 |
| 2″ Pot | SKU 6109-2 — $12.99 |
