Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae

Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae, commonly known as the New Zealand Micro Sword, is a fine-leaved, carpet-forming plant from the marshy edges of rivers and lakes in New Zealand and Australia. It has narrow, grass-like leaves that stay low to the substrate, forming dense mats that resemble miniature lawns underwater. Each stem is bright green and grows just a few centimetres tall, making it ideal for the foreground of aquascapes or for creating a natural transition between open substrate and midground plants.

In the aquarium, it thrives in clean, nutrient-rich water with moderate to high lighting and benefits from CO₂ supplementation, which encourages compact, faster spreading growth. It can adapt to both submerged and emersed conditions, though underwater it grows more slowly and needs patience to form a full carpet. Regular trimming helps it stay neat and prevents older growth from shading new shoots.