TankBud

Giant bacopa

Bacopa caroliniana

Also known as Lemon bacopa, Blue water hyssop, Carolina hyssop, Giant red bacopa, Bacopa amplexicaulis

FreshwaterBrackishStemCuttingsSide shoots

Giant bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
64–82°F
18–28°C
Max height
15.7 in
40 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–8.0
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
1.6 in (4 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Beginner
Family
Plantaginaceae
Origin
Southeastern United States

Overview

Giant bacopa is a tough, forgiving stem plant for the background. It is a good beginner choice.

Did you know

The leaves of giant bacopa smell of lemon, lime or licorice when you crush them. That scent is where the common name lemon bacopa comes from.

Caring for giant bacopa

Strip the lower leaves and plant the stems one at a time in the substrate. Giant bacopa feeds through its roots and the water, so root tabs and a liquid fertilizer both help.

It grows in low light without CO2. Stronger light, CO2 and iron bring out bronze, copper and reddish tops. It handles pH 6 to 8 and 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C), and it even tolerates brackish water.

Growth is steady rather than rampant, so it stays tidy and needs little trimming. Propagate it by cutting the tops and replanting them, or by planting side shoots.

Good to know

Giant bacopa is a member of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, and a relative of the medicinal Bacopa monnieri. Its thick, succulent oval leaves sit in opposite pairs along a sturdy stem. It also goes by Carolina hyssop and blue water hyssop.

In the wild

Giant bacopa is native to the southeastern United States and is very common in Florida and the Gulf states. It grows in marshes, wet ditches and pond edges, both emersed as a bog plant and fully submersed.

Common questions

Does giant 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 giant bacopa need CO2?

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

How much light does giant bacopa need?

Giant bacopa is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.

Does giant bacopa need root tabs?

They help. Giant 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 giant bacopa?

Giant 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 giant bacopa grow?

Giant bacopa grows to about 15.7 in (40 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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