Plants
Carolina Bacopa
Bacopa caroliniana
Origin: Carolina bacopa comes from the south-eastern USA, where it grows in shallows, marshes, and along water margins. It tolerates both fully submerged and emersed growth well.
Also known as: Lemon bacopa, Blue waterhyssop, Bacopa caroliniana
Fact sheet
- Height
- 30 cm
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- Lighting
- Medium
- CO₂
- Not needed
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Midground, Background
Overview
Carolina bacopa is a hardy and very undemanding stem plant suitable for beginners. It grows slowly, needs no CO2 or bright light, and is prized in low-tech aquariums for this. Its upright stems with rounded fleshy leaves take on a coppery-red tinge at the tips under strong light. It looks good in groups in the mid- and background. Crushed, the leaves give off a faint lemon-mint scent.
Appearance
Upright stems bear opposite rounded-oval, slightly fleshy leaves 1.5–3 cm long. Colour is light or olive-green, with coppery-brown or reddish tips under bright light. Height is up to 30 cm. The thick stem makes the plant sturdy.
Care
Very undemanding: low to strong light, 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, a wide hardness range. CO2 is not required but speeds growth. A slow grower that rarely needs trimming. It tolerates cool water too.
Fertilizing
Nutrient demand is moderate. Basic liquid fertilisers suffice; nutrient-rich substrate helps but is not essential. The reddish tip colour intensifies with good light and available iron.
Breeding
It propagates by cuttings: stem tops are cut and replanted, and the remaining stem puts out side shoots. It roots easily.
Fun facts
Crushed, the leaves of Carolina bacopa smell of lemon with a hint of mint — hence the name lemon bacopa. The plant grows equally well submerged and emersed. Its hardiness makes it a classic beginner's choice.