Common Name
Stargrass
Description
Heteranthera zosterifolia from South America is an especially beautiful aquarium plant. It ramifies well, which results in dense bushy plant groups after only a short time. Under strong lights it grows fast and needs frequent trimming to ensure that the lower leaves are still reached by the light. It often throws water roots on the stems. On shoots floating on the water surface, small blue flowers will grow above the waterline.
Heteranthera zosterifolia is a beautiful stem plant with bright green lanceolate leaves. In its country of origin, Brazil, it usually grows in stangant waters and swampy regions. In the hobby, H. zosterifolia has been established for many years as a decorative plant for Dutch style aquaria as well as nature aquaria. Here it is used as contrasting plant in the fore-, the middle- and the background by simply cutting it to the desired height. Known as star grass by vernacular name, this plant is a great water quality indicator. A lack of nitrogen (in the form of NO3) lets the leaves become transparent before they wilt. A lack of phosphorous (in the form of PO4) changes the plant's bright green into a darker hue. H. zosterifolia is a relatively undemanding plant and grows well at medium light intensities without additional CO2 fertlisation. It attains its full potential, however, under strong lights and with CO2 fertilisation, then it shows lush, intensive growth and larger leaves. When allowed to grow out of the water it will often get nice blue flowers.
Source
Flowgrow
Characteristic
Branching, bushy stem plant
Light green coloration
Grass-like leaves
Stellate leaf formation
Complete Botanical Name
Heteranthéra zosterifólia Mart.
Family
Pontederiaceae
Genus
Heteranthera
Category
Background
Difficulty
easy
Growth
fast
Carbon Dioxide
need
pH Value
5-8
Temperature Tolerance
10-30℃
Carbonate Hardness
0-21 dKH
Propagation
Cuttings
Can Grow Emersed?
yes
Aquascaping
well-branched, bushy
