Brazilian Micro Sword care guide
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis · Apiaceae
Brazilian Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) is an aquatic plant. It belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is native to Argentina, Paraguay and south-eastern Brazil: swamps, ponds and slow-river banks. The common name “New Zealand grass” is misleading — it comes from South America. It needs medium to high light. Water temperature: Tolerates about 4–28 °C. pH: 6.0 – 7.0. Care difficulty: Moderate (tolerates soft, hard and slightly brackish water). Growth rate: slow, spreading along a creeping rhizome.
How do you care for Brazilian Micro Sword?
| Light | Medium to High (survives moderate light, but the lawn only becomes dense under strong, unshaded light) |
|---|---|
| CO₂ | Helpful |
| Temperature | Tolerates about 4–28 °C |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Placement | A foreground lawn; plant small tufts a few cm apart in fine-grained substrate |
| Growth | Slow, spreading along a creeping rhizome |
| Difficulty | Moderate (tolerates soft, hard and slightly brackish water) |
| Family | Apiaceae |
How do you trim and propagate Brazilian Micro Sword?
Leaves are usually no more than about 6 cm. Divide into small tufts for planting and let the plant slowly fill in as a low lawn.
Where does Brazilian Micro Sword come from?
Argentina, Paraguay and south-eastern Brazil: swamps, ponds and slow-river banks. The common name “New Zealand grass” is misleading — it comes from South America
Sources
- Lilaeopsis brasiliensis - Brazilian micro sword — Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database (cites Kasselmann 2019 and Aquasabi)
- Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) — Aquasabi plant fact sheet (its values are credited there to the Flowgrow databas
Care details checked against these sources on 2026-10-29.
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