Water Hyssop Bacopa caroliniana
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Water Hyssop:
- Phonetic Spelling
- buh-KOH-puh kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuh
- Description
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Lemon Bacopa is a creeping native herbaceous perennial wildflower in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) found a;ong shores, tidal muds, marshes, disturbed wetlands, and coastal shores of the southeastern U.S.A. and Cuba.
This plant grows up to 1 foot high and spreads up to 40 inches wide, preferring partial shade outdoors but bright light indoors. It is not drought or salt-tolerant. It will root easily from stem cuttings.
The thick, succulent leaves are lemon-scented when crushed. The small bright blue flowers bloom from late spring to fall, attracting small pollinators.
Lemon Bacopa can be grown along a pond or bog as a groundcover or grown fully submerged. Use in a native, water or rain garden. It can be grown indoors in a hanging container or in an aquarium.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- 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
- Wildlife Value:
- A food source for the larvae of the White peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterfly.
- 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:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available July-October. Small inconspicuous capsules
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- 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:
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Wet Soil
