diff --git a/src/formio/components/textarea.ts b/src/formio/components/textarea.ts
index c28c4fe..3c795e9 100644
--- a/src/formio/components/textarea.ts
+++ b/src/formio/components/textarea.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export interface BaseTextareaComponentSchema extends Omit<TextareaInputSchema, '
   // additional properties
   showCharCount?: boolean;
   autocomplete?: string;
-  rows: number;
+  rows?: number;
   autoExpand: boolean;
 }