Marsilea hirsuta

Marsilea hirsuta is a versatile carpeting fern known for its small clover-like leaves and natural, meadow-like growth. Depending on lighting and aquarium conditions, it may produce single-lobed, two-lobed, or four-lobed leaves, giving the foreground a varied and organic texture. Once established, its creeping runners gradually form an attractive low carpet.

Divide the tissue culture into small portions and plant them a few centimeters apart in a nutrient-rich substrate. Moderate lighting and consistent fertilization support steady spreading, while added CO₂ encourages faster, denser, and more compact growth. Newly planted portions may temporarily shed emersed leaves while adapting to submerged aquarium conditions.

Care Tips

• Plant small portions across the foreground with space for runners to spread.
• Provide low to medium lighting; stronger light encourages more compact growth.
• Use a nutrient-rich substrate or regular root fertilization.
• CO₂ is optional but recommended for faster carpet formation.
• Trim taller leaves and thin dense areas to maintain a low, even foreground.

Specifications

• Scientific Name: Marsilea hirsuta
• Common Name: Dwarf Four Leaf Clover
• Placement: Foreground
• Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
• Lighting: Low to Medium
• CO₂: Optional; Recommended for Dense Growth
• Temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C)
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate
• Propagation: Runners

Marsilea hirsuta is an excellent choice for aquascapers seeking a natural-looking carpet with more character and variation than traditional grass-like foreground plants.