FNPS Plant Database
Bacopa monnieri
water hyssop, herb-of-grace
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
water hyssop, herb-of-grace
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Bacopa monnieri
Family:
Plantaginaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
flower
Size:
to 6 inches ft tall by extensive mats feet wide
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
white
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
winter dormant
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Low ground-hugging ground cover in restoration areas, in ditches, and on wetland edges.
Considerations:
It can become aggressive in the right conditions.
Availability:
Propagation:
Seed, division, and cuttings
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
<------------->
----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|-
Aquatic (always flooded) ---to--- Usually moist, occasional inundation
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Organic (muck), Sand
Soil pH:
unknown
Suitable to Grow In:
8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Larval host plant for white peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterflies. Insect pollinated. Attracts low-flying butterflies including the white peacock which use the nectar.
Native Habitats:
Lakes edges, stream floodplains, marshes, swamps
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Huegel, Craig N. 2012. Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Nelson, Gil. 2003. Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Patton, Sean, and Kendall Southworth. 2025. Florida's Aquatic Butterfly Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful Backyard Habitat for Attracting 70+ Species with 100+ Native Plants. Pineapple Press, Palm Beach.
