Hedge Hyssop Gratiola viscidula
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- G. viscidula subsp. shortii
- Phonetic Spelling
- gra-TEE-oh-luh vis-KID-yoo-la
- Description
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Hedge Hyssop is a native wildflower in the plantain family and is considered Imperiled in North Carolina but can be found along pond and lake margins, and wetlands. It rarely reaches over 1 foot tall and is easy to miss due to its size and habitat in very wet, even partially submerged areas. It has become popular as an aquarium plant and can remain submerged for long periods of time. The glandular puberulence of the stems and flower bracts give the plant a clammy or sticky feel when touched. It is multi-stemmed and compact in growth habit forming a dense mound. The white tubular flowers appear in summer into fall.
This plant can be grown in neutral pH wet sites as bogs and water gardens or along streams and ponds. It prefers partial shade and requires constantly wet soils.
- 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:
- Gratiola
- Species:
- viscidula
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Central & South Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ky., Md., N.C., Ohio, S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Water Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Occasionally Wet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 2 White with yellow center flowers on long stems grows in each leaf axis. They have 5 petals but 2 are often fused.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves are clasping to the stem and lance-shaped.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Densely glandular puberulent green stem have a sticky feel.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil