Eleocharis vivipara
A taller hairgrass that produces baby plantlets at the tips of mature blades — they bend over, root into the substrate, and form new clumps in cascading layers. Adds vertical motion to midground scapes that ordinary dwarf hairgrass can't provide.
Umbrella Hairgrass (Eleocharis vivipara) is a rosette aquatic plant for the midground to background of a planted tank. It reaches 20–50 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: recommended. Target 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–12 dGH. Substrate: Aquasoil preferred; root tabs in inert. Propagate via daughter plantlets at the leaf tips.
Care at a glance
A taller hairgrass that produces baby plantlets at the tips of mature blades — they bend over, root into the substrate, and form new clumps in cascading layers. Adds vertical motion to midground scapes that ordinary dwarf hairgrass can't provide.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether umbrella hairgrass fits in your tank.
Cyperaceae
Rosette
Midground to background
Aquasoil preferred; root tabs in inert
Daughter plantlets at the leaf tips
Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: recommended. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.
Umbrella Hairgrass (Eleocharis vivipara) needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: midground to background. Substrate: Aquasoil preferred; root tabs in inert It typically reaches 20–50 cm.
Propagation method: Daughter plantlets at the leaf tips. Umbrella Hairgrass is a rosette plant.
Target 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–12 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
