Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

Clay

Loam (Silt)

Sand

Soil pH:

Acid (<6.0)

Alkaline (>8.0)

Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Soil Drainage:

Moist

Occasional Flooding

Occasionally Wet

Available Space To Plant:

12 inches-3 feet

NC Region:

Coastal

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

Bacopa monnieri, or Water Hyssop, is a native perennial tropical wildflower typically found in moist wet places such as freshwater tidal marshes, riparian areas, streams, pools, and muddy shores. It is a coastal and lower Coastal Plain species, ranging from southeastern Virgina south to southern Florida and west to Texas. This plant is heat tolerant, but not drought tolerant at all. This plant is often used in hanging baskets and in aquariums and is sometimes sold for medicinal purposes.

The small succulent leaves are evergreen and the small white flowers have a long blooming season. However, unlike other species of Bacopa, the leaves are not fragrent when crushed. The plant will grow in moist to wet soils, along streams and ponds or in a bog garden in full sun to partial shade. Water Hyssop does well planted in bogs,water gardens and in hanging baskets or draping over the edge of a pot. It will also grow and spread rapidly in moist soil or shallow water as a ground cover.