Blue Water-hyssop Bacopa caroliniana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- buh-KOH-puh kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuh
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available July-October.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Wet Soil
