One species · 2 forms

Moneywort

Bacopa monnieri

Also known as Bacopa, Water Hyssop, Brahmi, Herb of Grace

FreshwaterBrackishStemCuttingsSide shoots

Moneywort (Bacopa monnieri) — Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light: Medium light
CO2: No CO₂ needed
Temperature: 64–82°F; 18–28°C
Max height: 11.8 in; 30 cm

Growth rate: Slow
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
pH: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: 4–15 dGH
Spread: 2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Beginner
Family: Plantaginaceae
Origin: Pantropical (wetlands worldwide, including India, the Americas and Australia)

Pick a form

Variegated takes plain moneywort's care, while Platinum needs strong light and root tabs.

Overview

Moneywort is one of the easiest stem plants for a low-tech tank and a good choice for the midground and background. It grows slowly but steadily, which makes it forgiving for beginners.

Did you know

The same plant in your tank is sold in health stores as Brahmi, a traditional Ayurvedic memory tonic. It is still being studied for its effects on cognition.

Caring for moneywort

Plant moneywort stem by stem, burying only the bare lower stem, since leaves pushed into the substrate can rot. It needs no CO2 and does fine under low to medium light.

Its slow pace makes it a magnet for algae when the light is too strong for its growth.

Variegated and Platinum are cultivated sports of moneywort with no wild range. Platinum is rated medium difficulty, while plain moneywort and Variegated are beginner plants.

Good to know

Moneywort belongs to the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It has thick, succulent, oval leaves in opposite pairs on a sturdy stem, an unusually fleshy build for an aquarium stem plant. It roots from the nodes rather than spreading by runners.

In the wild

Moneywort is a pantropical wetland plant of marshes, muddy banks and the edges of ponds and streams across India, the Americas, Africa and Australia. It creeps emersed over soggy ground and tolerates standing water, which is why it adapts so readily to life underwater. It handles a wide range of conditions, including slightly brackish coastal wetlands.

Common questions

Why is my variegated moneywort turning green?

Weak light fades the marbling on variegated moneywort, so give it a little more light than plain moneywort. A variegated stem can also push out an all-green shoot. Cut that shoot out at the base to keep the group marbled.

Is Bacopa Platinum the same plant as variegated moneywort?

Shops sell Bacopa Platinum and variegated moneywort as separate forms. Platinum is described as silvery green to cream with little green, and Variegated as lime green marbled with cream. Some shops use nearly the same text for both, so compare photos before you buy.

Can variegated moneywort grow in a low-tech tank?

Aquatic Arts says variegated moneywort does well in low-tech tanks when the substrate is rich and the light is bright. Glass Aqua warns that stems kept too dim can rot.

Does moneywort 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 moneywort need CO2?

No. Moneywort grows well without added CO2.

Does moneywort need root tabs?

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

How do you propagate moneywort?

Moneywort 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.