Want a lawn rather than a meadow? Eleocharis sp. 'Mini' is the shortest hairgrass in the hobby — fine blades that stay one to two inches tall and spread by runner into a dense, even carpet. Standard Dwarf Hairgrass grows taller and looser; this one stays flat. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® (tissue culture) format.
What You’ll Receive
One 4-inch Vitro Culture® bag containing multiple healthy clumps of Eleocharis sp. ‘Mini’, carefully grown in sterile gel and ready to plant in your aquarium.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Dwarf Hairgrass 'Mini', Mini Hairgrass
- Scientific name — Eleocharis sp. 'Mini'
- Also known as — Eleocharis acicularis 'Mini', Eleocharis sp. 'Belem', Japanese Hairgrass, Belem Hairgrass
- Origin — Cultivated dwarf form
- Placement — Foreground carpet
- Shipped size — 4-inch Vitro Culture® bag, multiple small clumps
- Mature height — 1–2 in
- Suits — 5 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Medium
Care
- Difficulty — Intermediate
- Light — Medium to high. Strong light is what keeps it short and tight
- CO₂ — Recommended. It carpets far more evenly with it
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Dry start works well
- Propagation — Substrate runners
Grower’s Notes
- Split the cup into many small clumps. Divide into portions of a few blades each and plant them an inch apart. One bag gives five to eight plantable portions. Planted as one lump it takes months longer, because runners only travel into open substrate.
- Light must reach the substrate. This is the single thing that decides whether it carpets flat or stretches upward — a hairgrass shaded by taller plants grows long and thin.
- Trim the carpet once established. Cutting it back with scissors encourages denser runner growth rather than height.
- Expect the emersed blades to melt back after planting. New submersed growth comes from the runners, not the original blades — leave it alone through the transition.
- Rinse the gel off completely before planting or it clouds water and feeds algae in the first weeks. Also available bare-root and as a bulk pack for large carpets.
Want to go deeper? Read our complete Dwarf Hairgrass Care Guide.
Notes
- Photos shown are representative. Actual plant size and density may vary. For best results, separate and plant small portions evenly across the foreground to encourage fast spreading.
- 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® and Next Day Air® ship Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday 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.
Customers praised this tissue-cultured dwarf hairgrass for arriving "healthy and green" with "strong root structures." Most found generous quantities per cup, enough for small to medium tanks. Some experienced initial melting before regrowth. Shoppers noted fast shipping and pest-free cultures. A few mentioned portions smaller than expected, though quality remained consistently high.
- Grass arrived fully grown. Pleasantly surprised by the maturity when it arrived.
- Received two cultures and both were in very good condition. Cultures seem to be thriving.
- Well developed with strong root structures. Excellent buy.
B
Arrived in great condition. Can’t wait to see them grow
B
Included with other plants I ordered was this tissue culture. Very vibrant green on color and bunched well! Just gently rinsed off gel and they were ready to be added to my tank! If you're a first timer at planting them, like myself, be careful as the bunches can fall apart (100% user error there). No "melting" or dying off and I've had then for almost a week! HIGHLY recommended, but if you can't wait for the hairgrass to carpet I would order 2 to 3 of these tissue cultures.
M
I was very pleased with my order. Got 2 pks of the tissue culture to do my 5 gallon and had just enough. Mine came in a baggy with gel. Every blade was healthy and the roots were in great shape. Sperated well. 2 days in New tank and they seem to be doing well. Along with my other plants I ordered. Everything pest free and healthy
J
These plants took six days to arrive and were delayed by USPS during a very hot period in July. I was worried. They were separated from the gel when they got here buy otherwise in good condition. They’re in my new tank and look very healthy.
I
These plants arrived quickly and look very healthy. We are doing a dry start so that’s really all we could ask for! Would order again.
G
Ordered early in the week and recieved them by the weekend. The cup came looking incredibly healthy and green and was an amazing portion size for the price! I will definitely be ordering plants here in the future!
K
Came very well packaged and preserved! looks great in the aquarium, can't wait to see it grow into a nice carpet!
K
Very happy with the size and quality. Arrived a little yellow on some strands but very green overall. Great plant to add to your aquarium.
S
Dwarf was in great condition, great quality for the price! The only reason I am giving this 4 stars is the quantity... it’s too much! I bought two packs of five and a single and only really needed 2 or 3 cups. They need to put the size of this in the description. I though this would of been tiny like from other vendors. Wasted $80 on product I didn’t need.
100% recommend these guys, just remember you get a good amount with one cup. I did 8 rows in a 75 gallon tank with 1 1/2” spacing with two cups.
P
Looks really great on my 5 Gallon tank! One cup served well!
J
All 4 plant varieties arrived well packed and in excellent health.
R
Arrived fast and in perfect condition. APF is my go to for all my aquarium plants needs. Always arrive pest free and perfect condition.
R
I purchased a set of 3 of these for my 50 gallon guppy tank. They arrived in two business days, very healthy, just as described. Already they are growing in the tank, as my goal is to carpet the aquarium floor with this hairgrass! A+++ would recommend for sure.
D
Packaged very well, very healthy right out of the box, the hairgrass probably could have made it several more days if the shipping was delayed.
K
Really amazing, healthy culture that's taken off really well. I'm also very impressed with the customer service; APF was in touch before, during and after I received my shipment to check in. I really appreciated the support! The two pictures are the day I planted them and only two weeks later! Can't wait to keep up with everything ❤️
T
Super green healthy sod chunk. Best I've seen!!
That was one cups worth..hopefully I can make it grow
M
Beautiful mini hairgrass! One cup goes a long way when you split these up into small plants. Took hole fast and growing well. Would revommend
M
I have bought several plants from the Aquarium Plant Factory and they all came alive and well. After planting in my aquarium they have all thrived and grown in excellent. I have purchased plants from several other sources and the factory by far has superior plants. Customer service is responsive and helpful as well. A+ highly recommend. Thank you Plant Factory!
L
This is the first time I have used a small foreground plant grown in a dish. It took a bit of effort to get it settled in the substrate and I had to be careful as it can break apart easily. I finally got it in and eventually added some substrate on top to keep it there. That seemed to do the trick. It has been a week and the grass has grown over the rock and is starting to spread. I am really looking forward to seeing how this does over the long term.
T
Came in perfect!
M
Plants arrived in excellent shape and have held up well in the new tank.
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