Bacopa monnieri
herb-of-grace
Overview
Bacopa monnieri is a creeping, mat-forming perennial herb growing 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall and spreading indefinitely by rooting at the stem nodes. The succulent, prostrate stems carry paired, oblanceolate to spatulate leaves 0.2-0.8 inch (5-20 mm) long, with smooth margins and a fleshy texture. Five-petaled flowers measure 0.3-0.4 inch (8-10 mm) across, white to pale violet with a faint yellow throat, borne singly on slender stalks from the leaf axils through the warm months. The fruit is an ovoid capsule about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long containing numerous minute seeds. The plant roots in saturated mud and shallow standing water and tolerates brackish conditions along coastal margins. In cultivation it spreads aggressively where water and warmth are constant and can overrun small pond margins within a single season. Foliage remains evergreen in frost-free climates and dies back where temperatures drop below freezing. It is grown as an aquarium and pond-margin plant and is harvested commercially for the bacoside compounds used in herbal preparations. Growth slows below 60F (16C), and stems become sparse and leggy in deep shade.
Native Range
Bacopa monnieri occurs across the wetlands of every warm continent, including India, southern China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the southern United States from Florida to California. It grows in marshes, pond edges, ditches, and tidal mudflats from sea level to low elevations.Suggested Uses
Grown along pond and stream margins, in bog gardens, and in containers of saturated soil. It is widely used as a foreground plant in freshwater aquaria. Also cultivated in beds for harvest of its medicinal foliage.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs through the warm season, chiefly from late spring into autumn, and continues year-round in frost-free climates. Individual blooms last only a few days, but the plant produces them in succession over many weeks. Cool water and short days reduce flowering.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale violetFoliage Description
green to yellow-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Bacopa monnieri in full sun to part shade in saturated soil, shallow water, or fully submerged as an aquarium plant. It tolerates a pH range from 6.0 to 8.5 and accepts both fresh and mildly brackish water. Constant moisture is required, and the plant wilts quickly if the substrate dries. Water temperatures of 70-85F (21-29C) support active growth, while growth stalls below 60F (16C). In ponds it spreads by creeping stems and may need periodic thinning to stay within bounds. Light feeding maintains leaf density in nutrient-poor aquaria.Pruning
Creeping stems can be trimmed at any point in the growing season to control spread and remove yellowing growth. Cut sections root readily in mud or water, and no structural pruning is required.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons