Dwarf Spikerush

Sold as 'dwarf hairgrass' alongside Eleocharis acicularis, this is the shorter, more upright of the two — fine, hair-like bright green blades rising from creeping runners into a lawn that rarely tops 10 cm.

Eleocharis sp. 'Parvula' is often confused with Eleocharis acicularis (needle spike-rush) in the trade. The difference is subtle: parvula has slightly thicker, more upright blades that stay shorter, while acicularis blades are finer and tend to bend over as they grow. Both are sold as 'dwarf hairgrass' and work similarly in aquascaping.

Moderate light and temperature from 18 to 26 °C are enough to keep it growing. It spreads by runners that travel through the substrate; planting small clumps a few centimetres apart will produce a full carpet within several weeks. CO₂ is not required but speeds up the spread.

The fine blades trap debris easily, so gentle water flow across the carpet and occasional rinsing during water changes help keep it clean. It does well in both tropical and cooler setups, making it a flexible foreground choice for a range of aquarium types.