Eleocharis Acicularis

The classic grass carpet. Eleocharis acicularis spreads by runners into a fine, needle-leaved meadow that stands 3–6 inches and sways with the current — taller and more flowing than the Mini form, and dense enough that fry vanish into it. Trim it as hard as you like; cutting the blades doesn't harm the plant.

What You’ll Receive

• Bare-root Plants | small clump, bare-root portion
• Popular foreground plant for planted aquarium
• Carpet-forming plant, create carpet effect for your fish tank
• Propagate via runners and can be trimmed without hurting the grass

Plant Profile

• Common name — Dwarf Hairgrass, Needle Spikerush
• Scientific name — Eleocharis acicularis
• Origin — Widespread across the northern hemisphere
• Placement — Foreground
• Shipped size — Small bare-root clump, roughly 2-4 in
• Mature height — 3–6 in
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Medium. Light must reach the substrate, not just the surface
• CO₂ — Recommended. It roughly halves the time to a closed carpet
• Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
• Propagation — Runners

Grower’s Notes

• Split the clump before planting. A single bare-root portion divides into six or eight small tufts. Planted half an inch apart they close ranks far faster than the intact clump would spread — the portion effectively covers several times its own area.
• Trim the carpet once it establishes. Cutting the blades back triggers a flush of new runners and thickens the mat.
• Feed at the roots — runner production stalls without a nutrient substrate or root tabs.
• If you want a shorter, flatter lawn, Eleocharis sp. Mini stays around half this height.
• Height and density make it genuinely useful in breeding tanks, where fry need somewhere to vanish.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis) Care Guide.

Notes

• Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged or submerge.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.