TankBud

Purple bacopa

Bacopa salzmannii

Also known as Bacopa salzmannii 'Purple', Salzmann's water hyssop, Purple water hyssop

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Purple bacopa (Bacopa salzmannii)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
11.8 in
30 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Plantaginaceae
Origin
Native to swamps and slow river margins in Central and South America.

Overview

Purple bacopa is a moderately demanding stem plant for the midground, grown for its colored tops.

Did you know

The same stem of purple bacopa can be green at the base and violet at the top. Each part colors according to how much light it receives.

Caring for purple bacopa

Strip the lower leaves and plant the stems in the midground, giving each a little space. Purple bacopa feeds through its roots and the water, so use root tabs and a regular liquid fertilizer.

It needs high light to turn purple, and it stays green in dimmer tanks. In weak light the stems also stretch and drop their lower leaves. CO2 and regular fertilizer improve both its color and its pace. Keep it at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C), in softer water than other Bacopa species need.

It grows at a moderate pace. Trim and replant the tops to build a fuller group, and plant side shoots once they have a few leaves.

Good to know

Purple bacopa, Bacopa salzmannii, belongs to the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, and is one of several Bacopa species grown in aquariums. Its paired, lance-shaped leaves sit on upright stems and shift from olive green to deep purple and violet. The color comes from anthocyanin pigments. Compact node spacing gives an established group a full, bushy look.

In the wild

Purple bacopa is native to swamps and slow river margins in Central and South America. The tops of its stems sit near the surface there.

Common questions

Does purple bacopa need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does purple bacopa need CO2?

No, but it helps. Purple bacopa can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does purple bacopa need?

Purple bacopa needs high light from a strong planted-tank LED. In weaker light its stems stretch and drop their lower leaves.

Does purple bacopa need root tabs?

They help. Purple bacopa takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate purple bacopa?

Purple bacopa propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does purple bacopa grow?

Purple bacopa grows to about 11.8 in (30 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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