diff --git a/src/components/input/input.js b/src/components/input/input.js
index 2a34cf9db4b..d3e8c646d76 100644
--- a/src/components/input/input.js
+++ b/src/components/input/input.js
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ function labelDirective() {
  * The purpose of **`md-maxlength`** is exactly to show the max length counter text. If you don't want the counter text and only need "plain" validation, you can use the "simple" `ng-maxlength` or maxlength attributes.
  * @param {string=} aria-label Aria-label is required when no label is present.  A warning message will be logged in the console if not present.
  * @param {string=} placeholder An alternative approach to using aria-label when the label is not present.  The placeholder text is copied to the aria-label attribute.
+ * @param md-no-autogrow {boolean=} When present, textareas will not grow automatically.
  *
  * @usage
  * <hljs lang="html">
@@ -230,7 +231,21 @@ function inputTextareaDirective($mdUtil, $window, $mdAria) {
     }
 
     function setupTextarea() {
+      if(angular.isDefined(element.attr('md-no-autogrow'))) {
+        return;
+      }
+
       var node = element[0];
+      var container = containerCtrl.element[0];
+
+      var min_rows = NaN;
+      var lineHeight = null;
+      // can't check if height was or not explicity set,
+      // so rows attribute will take precedence if present
+      if(node.hasAttribute('rows')) {
+        min_rows = parseInt(node.getAttribute('rows'));
+      }
+
       var onChangeTextarea = $mdUtil.debounce(growTextarea, 1);
 
       function pipelineListener(value) {
@@ -245,19 +260,49 @@ function inputTextareaDirective($mdUtil, $window, $mdAria) {
         onChangeTextarea();
       }
       element.on('keydown input', onChangeTextarea);
-      element.on('scroll', onScroll);
+
+      if(isNaN(min_rows)) {
+        element.attr('rows', '1');
+
+        element.on('scroll', onScroll);
+      }
+
       angular.element($window).on('resize', onChangeTextarea);
-      element.attr('rows', '1');
 
       scope.$on('$destroy', function() {
         angular.element($window).off('resize', onChangeTextarea);
       });
 
       function growTextarea() {
-        node.style.height = "auto";
-        node.scrollTop = 0;
-        var height = getHeight();
-        if (height) node.style.height = height + 'px';
+        // sets the md-input-container height to avoid jumping around
+        container.style.height = container.offsetHeight + 'px';
+
+        // temporarily disables element's flex so its height 'runs free'
+        element.addClass('md-no-flex');
+
+        if(isNaN(min_rows)) {
+          node.style.height = "auto";
+          node.scrollTop = 0;
+          var height = getHeight();
+          if (height) node.style.height = height + 'px';
+        } else {
+          node.setAttribute("rows", 1);
+
+          if(!lineHeight) {
+            node.style.minHeight = '0';
+
+            lineHeight = element.height();
+
+            node.style.minHeight = null;
+          }
+
+          var rows = Math.max(min_rows, Math.round(node.scrollHeight / lineHeight));
+          node.setAttribute("rows", rows);
+        }
+
+        // reset everything back to normal
+        element.removeClass('md-no-flex');
+        container.style.height = 'auto';
       }
 
       function getHeight () {
diff --git a/src/components/input/input.scss b/src/components/input/input.scss
index 97c0b08f050..b1c451a70ba 100644
--- a/src/components/input/input.scss
+++ b/src/components/input/input.scss
@@ -141,6 +141,10 @@ md-input-container {
       outline: none;
       box-shadow: none;
     }
+
+    &.md-no-flex {
+      flex: none !important;
+    }
   }
 
   ng-messages, data-ng-messages, x-ng-messages,