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Viscid Hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • G. viscidula subsp. shortii
Phonetic Spelling
gra-TEE-oh-luh vis-KID-yoo-la
Description

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:
Tags:
#water garden#wetlands#NC native#floodplain#marshes#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wet soils tolerant#aquariums#boggy sites#wildflower#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#wetlands#NC native#floodplain#marshes#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wet soils tolerant#aquariums#boggy sites#wildflower#herb garden
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Water Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Densely glandular puberulent green stem have a sticky feel.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil