TankBud

Needle leaf bacopa

Bacopa myriophylloides

Also known as Brazilian bacopa, Needle-leaf bacopa, Milfoil bacopa

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Needle leaf bacopa (Bacopa myriophylloides)
Rs79 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
70–82°F
21–28°C
Max height
11.8 in
30 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
5.0–6.5
Hardness
1–6 dGH
Spread
2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Plantaginaceae
Origin
Central Brazil (Pantanal)

Overview

Needle leaf bacopa is a light-loving stem plant for the midground of a well-run planted tank. It is difficult to keep and suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

Needle leaf bacopa looks exactly like a feathery milfoil, yet it is a real Bacopa. It is also far harder to grow underwater than the tough, beginner-grade Bacopa species most hobbyists know.

Caring for needle leaf bacopa

Strip the lower leaves and plant the stems one at a time, a little apart. It usually ships in emersed form, and it is much easier to grow emersed than underwater.

Underwater it needs high light and injected CO2. Keep the water clean, soft and acidic, around pH 5 to 6.5, at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C). It feeds through its roots and the water, so keep the tank well fertilized with root tabs and liquid fertilizer.

It grows slowly when submersed and resents unstable conditions. An established, algae-free tank helps it hold its fine green foliage. Propagate it from top cuttings and side shoots.

Good to know

Needle leaf bacopa belongs to the genus Bacopa in the family Plantaginaceae, and Bentham described it. Its fine, awl-shaped leaves grow in whorls. That needle-like look is a convergent resemblance, not a sign of any relationship to the feather-leaf milfoils.

In the wild

Needle leaf bacopa is native to the eastern and southern parts of central Brazil, including the Pantanal. It lives in boggy areas of shallow, very soft water in full sun.

Common questions

Does needle leaf 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 needle leaf bacopa need CO2?

Yes. Needle leaf bacopa needs injected CO2 to grow well, and it usually struggles without it.

How much light does needle leaf bacopa need?

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

Does needle leaf bacopa need root tabs?

They help. Needle leaf 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 needle leaf bacopa?

Needle leaf 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 needle leaf bacopa grow?

Needle leaf bacopa grows to about 11.8 in (30 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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