Eleocharis vivipara

Eleocharis vivipara is a sedge from the southern and south-eastern USA whose thread-like culms can reach 100 cm in length underwater.⁴ Tufts of young plants develop at the culm tips, which is also what the specific epithet (“live-bearing”) alludes to.¹²⁴ As a result, a dense, expansive tangle of culms can form over time; the umbrella-like growth habit looks best in tall tanks.³⁴

In aquascapes it creates a tall, grass-like area in the background and can also be used in the midground.¹ According to one hobbyist report, trimmed culms keep growing, but cut-off culms cannot be used as cuttings because the culms arise from a creeping rhizome.²⁴ For propagation, the culm whorls that form at the tips and already produce roots are detached and planted; division is also possible.²⁴