Plants
Stargrass
Heteranthera zosterifolia
Origin: Stargrass comes from South America — Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. It grows in slow streams, backwaters, and shallows with bright light.
Also known as: Water stargrass, Heteranthera zosterifolia
Fact sheet
- Height
- 50 cm
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Lighting
- Medium
- CO₂
- Recommended
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Placement
- Midground, Background
Overview
Stargrass is a fast-growing stem plant with narrow bright green leaves that forms lush, fluffy thickets. Thanks to vigorous growth and branching it fills the mid- and background well and helps fight algae by consuming excess nutrients. It is undemanding, but for a dense compact habit it likes bright light and CO2. It takes cuttings easily and recovers fast after trimming. An excellent plant for the Dutch style and for beginners with bright lighting.
Appearance
Flexible branching stems bear alternate narrow linear-lanceolate leaves 2–4 cm long, bright green. Under strong light it branches heavily, forming dense clouds of foliage. Height is up to 40–50 cm. It produces small blue flowers above water.
Care
It needs medium to strong light, 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5. CO2 is recommended for compact, lush growth. It grows very fast and needs regular trimming. Under weak light it stretches and thins out.
Fertilizing
It actively takes nutrients from water and substrate. Macronutrients (especially nitrogen) and CO2 matter for fast growth. A good consumer of excess nitrate — it helps against algae.
Breeding
It propagates by cuttings: any stem fragment roots easily and becomes a new plant. Trimming stimulates branching and density.
Fun facts
Its narrow 'star' leaves give it the name stargrass. Thanks to fast growth, stargrass is one of the best plants for suppressing algae in a young aquarium. It is popular in Dutch aquariums as a voluminous accent.