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Blue Water Hyssop Bacopa caroliniana

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
buh-KOH-puh kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuh
Description

Blue Water-hyssop is a creeping native herbaceous perennial wildflower in the plantain family found in shores, tidal muds, marshes, disturbed wetlands, and coastal shores of the southeastern U.S.A. and Cuba. The thick succulent leaves are lemon-scented when crushed. This plant is heat tolerant, although it is not drought or salt tolerant. It is often used for aquaria, although plants commonly sold for aquaria are likely not the native species. 

In the wild it grows up to 40 inches long in a bog or semi-submerged condition, adapting well if flooded and fully submerged. It can be grown in or by the pond in warmer locales or as a houseplant in an aquarium or a shallow dish. It prefers semi-shade outdoors but requires bright light indoors.

A food source for the larvae of the White peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterfly.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#heat tolerant#moth caterpillar host#fragrant leaves#native perennial#NC native#herbaceous perennial#pond garden#native wildflower#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#aquariums#Audubon#moth friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#heat tolerant#moth caterpillar host#fragrant leaves#native perennial#NC native#herbaceous perennial#pond garden#native wildflower#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#aquariums#Audubon#moth friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Bacopa
    Species:
    caroliniana
    Family:
    Plantaginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern U.S.A., Cuba
    Distribution:
    AL, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 8 in. - 3 ft. 4 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are available July-October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are blue with 5 petals and bloom May-September.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Thick succulent leaves are oblanceolate and opposite. 1/8 inch wide and 5/8 inch long
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Green stems growing out of the water have fine hairs. Those growing in the water are hairless.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Houseplants
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Wet Soil