Eleocharis parvula 'Mini', commonly known as Mini Dwarf Hairgrass, is a popular carpeting aquarium plant prized for its extremely fine, grass-like foliage and compact growth. When planted in small portions throughout the foreground, it gradually spreads to create a lush green carpet across the aquarium substrate.
Its miniature size makes it especially useful in nano aquariums, Iwagumi layouts, Nature Aquariums, and planted tanks where a short, natural-looking foreground is desired. The thin upright blades resemble a miniature underwater lawn and provide excellent contrast against stone, driftwood, and larger aquatic plants.
Supplied as a Tissue Culture, the plants are grown under sterile laboratory conditions and arrive free from snails, algae, and unwanted pests. Each cup can be divided into numerous small portions, allowing the Hairgrass to be distributed across a larger planting area.
Placement: Foreground / carpeting plant.
Lighting: Moderate to high lighting is recommended for compact, dense carpeting growth.
COâ‚‚: Recommended. Supplemental COâ‚‚ significantly improves spreading speed, density, and overall growth.
Substrate: Fine-grained, nutrient-rich planted aquarium substrate is recommended.
Fertilization: Benefits from consistent macro and micronutrient availability.
Maintenance: Trim established growth periodically to maintain the desired carpet height and encourage fresh growth.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eleocharis parvula 'Mini' |
| Common Name | Mini Dwarf Hairgrass / Dwarf Hairgrass |
| Format | Tissue Culture |
| Plant Type | Carpeting / Grass-Like |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Typical Height | Approximately 3–7 cm (1–3") |
| Colour | Bright Green |
| Placement | Foreground / Carpet |
| Lighting | Moderate to High |
| COâ‚‚ | Recommended |
| Propagation | Runners |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
Proper planting makes a significant difference in how quickly Eleocharis parvula 'Mini' develops into a carpet. Rather than planting the entire tissue culture cup as one large clump, divide it into numerous smaller portions.
Spacing small portions throughout the foreground gives each plant room to produce runners. Over time, these runners fill the spaces between the original plugs and create a continuous carpet.
For the fastest and densest carpet, provide good lighting, consistent nutrients, and supplemental COâ‚‚. Once established, Mini Dwarf Hairgrass sends runners horizontally beneath the substrate, with new blades emerging at intervals along each runner.
The more individual portions you create from the tissue culture cup, the more starting points the carpet will have. This can significantly reduce the amount of time required for the foreground to fill in.
Mini Dwarf Hairgrass is one of the classic foreground plants for Iwagumi-style aquascaping. Its simple, fine-textured foliage allows stone formations to remain the visual focus while creating the appearance of a natural grassy landscape.
It also works beautifully in Nature Aquarium layouts, nano aquariums, and larger planted tanks where a low-growing foreground is needed.
Available in Canada at Aquascaperoom — premium tissue culture aquarium plants and professional aquascaping supplies.
