Viviparous Spikerush

Unlike other Eleocharis species that spread by runners alone, Eleocharis vivipara produces tiny plantlets directly on its flower stems — each stalk develops a new rosette at the tip, which can be detached and planted separately. This viviparous propagation is where the species gets its name, and it makes this spikerush unusually easy to multiply without disturbing the parent clump.

The plant grows taller than its popular relative Eleocharis parvula, reaching 30 to 40 cm under good conditions, and works as a midground or background accent rather than a foreground carpet. The stems are fine and bright green, forming a soft, grassy texture that sways in the current. It comes from the southeastern United States, where it grows in wet sandy soils and shallow waterways.

Moderate light and soft, slightly acidic water between 20 and 27 °C suit it best. The narrow carbonate hardness range of 2 to 5 °dKH means it prefers soft water — hard alkaline tanks may cause slow decline. Consistent CO₂ supply produces denser, taller growth; the 20 to 40 mg per litre range Flowgrow publishes matches what most high-light softwater setups provide. New plantlets from the flower stems can be cut off and pressed into the substrate once they have developed a small root system.