Umbrella Hairgrass

Eleocharis vivipara is a thin-stemmed hairgrass from the wetlands of the southeastern United States. The "vivipara" in its name comes from the new plantlets it forms at the tips of mature stems: as the stems lengthen, small tufts of leaves appear at their tips, and these tufts in turn grow new stems. The heavier tips curve downward and the plant takes on a look resembling an umbrella or an underwater willow. It can be confused with other plants sold in the trade as "giant hairgrass"; the plantlets at the tips set it apart.

• Divide the clump into bunches of 3–5 stems and plant them 2–3 cm apart.
• Use it in the background or in corners; keep in mind that over time it will droop forward.

• Light: Medium is enough; under strong light it grows denser.
• CO₂: Not required, but increases growth and plantlet formation.
• Fertilizer: Root tabs; iron and potassium preserve the dark green color.
• Maintenance: It needs regular thinning; otherwise it turns into a tangled mass and blocks the light from the plants below. The plantlets at the tips are separated and planted to propagate it.