Stargrass
Heteranthera zosterifolia
Pontederiaceae
About
A fast, bushy stem plant from Brazil with narrow alternate leaves carried on heavily branching shoots that reach 30-50 cm. It fills a background corner within weeks, throws water roots along the stem, and will open small blue flowers at the surface of an open tank. Its appetite for nitrate makes it one of the more useful stems for settling a freshly planted aquarium.
Care
Medium light and a fertilised water column are enough, and CO2 is optional rather than required - it simply makes the bush denser and the leaves larger. Hardness matters more here than light: it wants soft to moderately hard water and calm flow, while hard alkaline water slows it down and can make the stems melt. Expect to trim every one to two weeks: left alone, the mass of side shoots forms a canopy that shades out anything planted beneath it and strips the plant's own lower stems bare. Leaves turning translucent are its way of reporting that nitrate has run out.
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Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Stargrass need?
- Stargrass does best at 10–30 °C (50–86 °F), pH 5–8 and a general hardness of 2–12 °dGH.
- Where should Stargrass be placed in the aquarium?
- Stargrass works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 50 cm.
- Is the Stargrass suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Stargrass is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.