Sagittaria subulata 'Narrow'

Sagittaria subulata 'Narrow' is a selection of the dwarf arrowhead from North America, notable for its especially fine, hair-thin submerged leaves. Under high light it remains extremely compact — just 5–10 cm — making it one of the few grass-type plants suitable as a true foreground carpeting species. Under lower light intensities it extends to 20–30 cm, serving as an elegant midground grass.

This species spreads prolifically by runners once established, capable of covering large areas of foreground substrate relatively quickly compared to other carpeting plants. It tolerates a wide range of water conditions including hard, brackish-adjacent water, making it suitable for livebearer tanks, goldfish setups, and other non-standard environments.

S. subulata 'Narrow' is an excellent low-maintenance alternative to high-demand carpet plants such as Hemianthus callitrichoides, providing a natural, grass-like foreground cover without requiring CO2 injection or very high lighting. It is among the most adaptable foreground plants in the hobby.

Light: Low to medium; high light (60+ µmol PAR) keeps the plant very short and compact as a true carpet; lower light produces taller, swaying grass. CO2: Not required; one of the most low-tech friendly foreground grasses available. Fertilisation: Root tabs beneficial for dense runner development; liquid fertilisation maintains leaf colour. Placement: Plant in foreground substrate at 3–5 cm spacing; runners will fill gaps within weeks. Propagation: Detach and replant runner plantlets; they establish quickly with minimal care.