Dwarf Sagittaria

Sagittaria subulata comes from the eastern United States and South America, where it grows in fresh as well as brackish water. In estuaries it can form vast meadows. In the aquarium it is one of the easiest plants to keep: it is rated very easy, and it does well without injected carbon dioxide. It needs only moderate light and tolerates rather hard alkaline water, which makes it a reliable choice for tanks with high carbonate hardness.

The plant spreads by runners and can carpet a tank quickly, though its height depends on how crowded it is. Densely planted groups grow leaves up to 60 cm long, while looser groups stay around 5 to 10 cm. Under strong light the shoot tips take on a reddish tint. Iron is its weak point: when iron is short the leaves yellow, and a regular fertilizer that includes iron keeps them green. Small white flowers appear on long stalks that reach the water surface. The optimum temperature is 18 to 28 °C with a pH of 5 to 9. The plant also grows emersed. Its winter hardiness is only half-hardy in Germany, so leaving it outdoors over a Central European winter is a gamble rather than a safe bet.