The Dwarf Hair Grass Mini Mat (6×4) is a live aquarium carpeting plant that creates a lush green foreground. Easy to grow, shrimp-safe, and perfect for aquascaping or nano tanks.
$14.50
In stock
Eleocharis acicularis ‘Mini’ (Dwarf Hair Grass Mini Mat – 6×4″)
🌿 Introduction
Dwarf Hair Grass ‘Mini’ is a compact carpeting plant that forms a bright green meadow across the aquarium floor. Its fine leaves and naturally low growth make it a favorite for aquascapes where scale, detail, and a clean foreground are important.
🌱 Plant Profile
Type: Carpeting plant
Origin: Northern Hemisphere wetlands (North America, Europe, Asia)
Position: Foreground (carpet)
Growth Rate: Moderate
Lighting: Medium–high
CO₂: Typically required for success
Height / Spread: 3–5 cm (1–2″) under high light and CO₂
Water Parameters: pH 6.0–7.5 · GH 3–10 · KH 1–6
✅ Care Summary
Supplied as a 6×4″ wire-based mat — simply set it on the substrate and allow roots to anchor naturally.
Grows naturally short and compact; only occasional thinning is needed rather than frequent trimming.
More demanding than standard Dwarf Hair Grass, requiring stronger light, CO₂ injection, and stable conditions.
Benefits from nutrient-rich substrate and steady fertilization for long-term health.
Excellent for creating a fine-textured foreground, providing natural cover for shrimp and small fish.
🌿 Q&A
Q: How tall does it grow?
A: Typically 3–5 cm (1–2″), much shorter than standard Dwarf Hair Grass.
Q: Does it need trimming?
A: Minimal maintenance. It stays low and compact on its own, with only occasional thinning required.
Q: Is this plant more difficult than regular Dwarf Hair Grass?
A: Yes — while it produces a finer, lower carpet, it requires stronger light, CO₂ injection, and stable conditions.
🌍 More about Dwarf Hair Grass Mini
Eleocharis acicularis has been documented since the 18th century and is found throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. In nature, it grows along lake margins, floodplains, and stream edges where the water is shallow and calm. Rooted in mud or fine sediment, it forms dense colonies that stabilize the substrate and provide shelter for aquatic invertebrates, amphibian larvae, and juvenile fish.
The cultivated “Mini” form was introduced to Tropica by aquascaper Tom Barr, and from there it spread into the aquarium hobby where it quickly became popular. Unlike the standard species, which can reach 10–15 cm in height, Dwarf Hair Grass Mini remains compact at just 3–5 cm under high light and CO₂. This shorter growth has made it one of the most widely used foreground plants in aquascaping, especially in layouts designed to capture the look of grassy meadows and natural riverbanks underwater.
This 19th-century plate of Eleocharis acicularis comes from Nikolaus Thomas Host’s Icones et descriptiones Graminum Austriacorum (1801–1809). Drawn with scientific precision, it shows the same dwarf hairgrass we still enjoy in aquariums today — a reminder that aquascaping connects us to a long tradition of botanical study and appreciation.
