Cryptocoryne Parva

Native to Sri Lanka, Cryptocoryne parva holds the title of the smallest crypt in the hobby, topping out at just 5 to 8 centimeters even under ideal conditions. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves stay a fairly consistent green without much variation, which gives it a tidy, grass-like look that suits low-tech nature aquascapes really well.

Unlike most of its relatives, it doesn't tend to melt dramatically when transplanted, though growth slows to a crawl after planting while it establishes its root system. And slow really is the operative word here. Don't expect a carpet in a few weeks. This plant measures its progress in months, not days, which is both its most frustrating and most forgiving quality.

CO2 injection speeds things up noticeably, and a nutrient-rich substrate makes a meaningful difference. Plant individual runners fairly close together from the start since you'll be waiting a long time for them to fill in naturally.

Foreground placement is ideal because of its compact height, and it stays put without shading out once established. If you want to see what a mature C. parva carpet actually looks like, searching planted tank community photo threads is well worth your time.