Bacopa monnieri , or Water Hyssop, is a native perennial tropical wildflower typically found in moist wet places such as freshwater tidal marshes, riparian areas, streams, pools, and muddy shores. It is a coastal and lower Coastal Plain species, ranging from southeastern Virgina south to southern Florida and west to Texas. This plant is heat tolerant, but not drought tolerant at all. This plant is often used in hanging baskets and in aquariums and is sometimes sold for medicinal purposes. The small succulent leaves are evergreen and the small white flowers have a long blooming season. However, unlike other species of Bacopa, the leaves are not fragrent when crushed. The plant will grow in moist to wet soils, along streams and ponds or in a bog garden in full sun to partial shade. Water Hyssop does well planted in bogs,water gardens and in hanging baskets or draping over the edge of a pot. It will also grow and spread rapidly in moist soil or shallow water as a ground cover. An important food source for the larvae of the White peacock ( Anartia jatrophae ) butterfly. Diseases, insect pests, and other plant problems: No known diseases or pest problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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 pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Small, thick, succulent leaves, 1/2 inch long and 1/4 inch wide, are oblong to oval, simple and opposite with entire margins.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small flowers, 2/3 of an inch across, bloom April until frost. They are bell-shaped, white with pinkish or blue tinges in color and occur in the axil of the leaves.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Fruits are available June-November.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Tropical and subtropical Americas, India, Southeast Asia
Distribution
AL , AZ , CA , FL , GA , HI , LA , MD , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX , VA
Wildlife value
Host plant to White Peacock Butterfly. Moderately deer resistant.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Edibility
Edible leaves, eaten raw in mixed salads or cooked as a vegetable. Not poisonous, but can cause nausea, increased intestinal motility, and gastrointestinal upset if ingested in large quantities.