Eleocharis parvula, commonly known as Dwarf Spikerush, is a perennial herb, though sometimes behaving as an annual, native to a wide range of wetland habitats including marshes, shores of lakes and ponds, wet meadows, and riverbanks across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It is a diminutive plant, forming dense tufts of spongy, compressible stems that typically do not exceed 10 centimeters in height. The stems grow from a J-shaped or horseshoe-shaped tuber, which is a distinctive feature for species identification. The inflorescence of Dwarf Spikerush is a small, oval-shaped spikelet measuring just 2 or 3 millimeters long, composed of several minuscule flowers that are not particularly showy.

Dwarf Spikerush is valued in cultivation for its ability to stabilize soil and filter water, making it an excellent choice for water gardens, rain gardens, and naturalized wetland areas. It thrives in full sun, requiring aquatic conditions with standing water or very wet soils. This plant is often used in aquariums and ponds where it provides habitat for aquatic wildlife. While it is generally low-maintenance, it can spread vigorously under ideal conditions and may require management to prevent unwanted expansion.CC BY-SA 4.0