Hairgrass Giant (Eleocharis Montevidensis)

Hairgrass Giant (Eleocharis Montevidensis)

Giant Hairgrass (Eleocharis montevidensis) is a classic “natural meadow” plant that adds movement, texture, and depth to planted aquariums. It grows as thin, straw-like blades that sway gently in the current and can create beautiful grass fields in the midground and background. In brighter light it tends to stay shorter and tighter; in more moderate light it often grows taller—sometimes reaching around 8 inches—giving you a more wild, riverbank look.

Giant Hairgrass Overview

This plant shines when you use it the way nature uses grass: in large drifts rather than a few isolated tufts. Planted in groups, it creates a soft backdrop behind rockwork and driftwood and makes a scape feel larger and more dimensional.

Aquarists appreciate Giant Hairgrass for:

• Natural movement: fine blades that sway and soften hard lines
• Great depth-building: ideal for midground-to-background transitions
• Runner spread: forms expanding “fields” over time when conditions are solid
• Fish-friendly cover: creates calm zones and hiding areas without blocking the whole view

For aquascaping, Giant Hairgrass is excellent behind aquascaping rock to add a soft, natural background to strong stone textures. It also looks great tucked around driftwood pieces like Saba Wood, where the blades can peek through and create that “overgrown river edge” vibe. If you want an even more natural feel, a light scatter of botanicals—like a few leaves or pods near the base of the hardscape—helps the layout feel established rather than freshly planted.

Caring for Hairgrass Giant

Giant Hairgrass is easy to grow, but it looks best when you support the basics: good light, root nutrition, and cleanliness at the base. It’s a root-feeding grass, so it benefits from a nutrient-rich planted substrate; in sand or gravel, a simple root-tab routine near the clumps helps it spread more confidently.

Because the blades are fine, they can trap debris if flow is weak or if maintenance is neglected. Gentle, consistent flow helps keep the grass clean, and occasional light siphoning just above the tops removes mulm without uprooting the runners. Scavenging fish like corydoras can also help by stirring the substrate surface as they forage, which reduces buildup around the base.

• Light: Moderate (brighter light tends to keep it shorter)
• Temperature Range: 64–82°F
• Placement: Midground–Background
• CO₂: Not required (beneficial for faster, denser spread)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Moderate; spreads via runners

Once it’s established, the key is planting strategy and patience. Start by dividing into small clumps and planting them a little apart in a large grouped area. As runners spread, those separate tufts slowly stitch together into a continuous grass field. If you prefer a tidier, shorter look, run stronger light and trim the tops occasionally like a “mow” to keep the stand even; if you want a more natural meadow, let it grow taller and simply thin or trim where it crowds other plants. Either way, a well-planned drift of Giant Hairgrass adds a level of realism and motion that makes an aquascape feel alive.

Hairgrass Giant is also available potted and we offer other varieties of grass-like plants, including Hairgrass Dwarf.

Shop with Confidence for Aquarium Plants at Modern Aquarium

When you’re buying live plants, the difference is rarely the species name—it’s the quality of the specimen, how it’s handled, and how it’s packed and shipped. At Modern Aquarium, we focus on delivering plants that arrive clean, healthy, and ready to thrive—backed by responsive support if you need a hand.

• Hand-inspected & prepared plants: Every plant is inspected and prepped before shipping so you receive healthy specimens, not a “grab-bag” pull.
• Fast, reliable shipping for live plants: We pack carefully and ship quickly by FedEx 2-Day Delivery to minimize transit stress and help plants arrive in great condition.
• Live Arrival Guarantee: Your live plant order is protected—so you can buy with confidence.
• Top Quality Store + real reviews: Modern Aquarium has been trusted by many thousands customers and has thousands of verified customer reviews on Google.
• Trusted Sourcing: Our plants are sourced from the best nursery in Florida and are handled with care from the grower to your aquarium.
• What You See Is What You Get: Every image on our site is a typical representation of the plants we sell—no unrealistic stock photos. Because live plants are natural products, individual specimens will vary in size, fullness, and coloration.
• Real support when you need it: Reach us via site chat or phone for practical help with planting, trimming, root-feeding routines, and pairing plants with hardscape.

Bottom line: Giant Hairgrass is an easy, natural-looking way to add depth and movement—especially when planted in large groups that form a true grass field. Give it a good root substrate, steady light, and basic cleanliness at the base, and it will reward you with a flowing, meadow-style background that makes rock-and-wood layouts feel more realistic and “grown-in” over time.