Common Name: Amazon Sword
Scientific Name: Echinodorus bracteatus ‘Lantau Lady’

To increase our local biodiversity and support native insects and pollinators, we are planting our Raleigh, NC yard with native plants such as Amazon Sword and will continue to document the North Carolina and Southeast U.S. native species we have trialed. This includes flowering annuals and perennials, trees, shrubs, sedges and vines. An excellent resource to learn more about the required growing conditions of Amazon Sword and other plants native in your state is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s tool – FIND PLANT. Click for a table of all our native plants.

Common Name	Amazon Sword
Scientific Name	Echinodorus bracteatus ‘Lantau Lady’
Plant Type	Marginal aquatic perennial
Native Range	Species native to Central America and northern South America; ‘Lantau Lady’ is a cultivated selection.
USDA Hardiness Zones	7b–11 (hardy in mild climates)
Light Requirements	Full sun to partial sun
Water Requirements	Thrives in shallow water, bogs, or consistently wet soil; can also be grown submerged in ponds.
Mature Size	3–7 ft tall and 3–15 ft wide, depending on growing conditions.
Bloom Time	Summer through early fall
Flower Color	White
Wildlife Value	Flowers attract pollinating insects; dense foliage provides shelter for fish, frogs, and other aquatic wildlife.
Landscape Uses	Excellent as a pond marginal, bog garden specimen, water garden focal point, or large container aquatic.
Interesting Fact	‘Lantau Lady’ was discovered growing on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island even though the species is native to the Americas. It produces plantlets on its flower stalks, making it easy to propagate.