Sagittaria Pusillus

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Dwarf sag; Narrow-leaved arrowhead; Awl-leaf arrowhead

Synonyms

Sagittaria subulata var. pusilla; Sagittaria pusilla; Sagittaria natans

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

United States, Eastern Canada, Central America

Habitat

Shallow riverbanks, streams, ponds, and lake margins with muddy or sandy substrate, often growing partially emergent along fluctuating shorelines

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Rosette

Max height

2 – 8 in (5.1 – 20 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Foreground, Carpet, Midground

Water

Temperature

64 – 82 °F (18 – 28 °C)

pH

5.5 – 8.0

GH

2 – 15 dGH

dKH

2 – 20 dKH

PAR

30 – 80 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Runners

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Care guide

Overview

Slender, grass-like green blades rise in loose rosettes that thicken over time into a tall carpet as runners spread through the substrate. It handles a broad range of water parameters, making it forgiving in new or established tanks, and adapts its height to available light. Root tabs near the crowns speed runner production and fill-in.

Care

Dwarf sagittaria tolerates a wide range of temperatures, pH, and hardness, making it forgiving for beginners setting up a new tank. Moderate to high lighting keeps the grassy blades short and dense for a true carpet, while lower light lets the leaves grow taller and more upright. It grows well without added CO2 but fills in faster and stays lower when CO2 and root nutrients are supplied.

Planting & trimming

Plant individual crowns a few inches apart directly into the substrate, keeping the crown itself uncovered, and let the runners fill in the gaps over time. Overly dense mats benefit from thinning or a hard trim close to the substrate to keep the carpet looking tidy and prevent shading of lower leaves. Runners that produce taller daughter plants can be clipped and replanted elsewhere or discarded to maintain a low profile.

Fertilizing

Root tabs pushed into the substrate near the crowns support the runner network and encourage denser spreading, since this plant draws a large share of its nutrition through its roots. Liquid fertilizers supplying iron and micronutrients help prevent pale or yellowing new leaves in low-tech setups. Nutrient-rich substrate reduces the need for heavy dosing but is not strictly required.

Propagation

New plantlets form along horizontal runners sent out from the parent crown and can be severed once they have developed their own root system. Separated runners are simply replanted a short distance away to expand the carpet. Under favorable conditions a single plant can colonize an entire foreground within a few months.

Problems

Newly imported specimens grown emersed often shed their original leaves and pale slightly as they convert to submersed growth, which is a normal transition rather than a sign of poor health. Thin, leggy growth with long internodes between runners usually indicates insufficient light. Persistent yellowing of new leaves points to an iron or micronutrient deficiency.

Sources

1. Sagittaria subulata "Pusilla" - Dwarf arrowhead - Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
2. Sagittaria subulata "Pusilla" | Aquasabi - Aquascaping Shop
3. Dwarf Sagittaria Guide: Care, Information, & Pictures - Build Your Aquarium
4. Sagittaria subulata var. pusilla - Dennerle Plants

Varieties in the catalog

Sagittaria Subulata

More Sagittarias

Sagittaria Platyphylla