FNPS Plant Database

Bacopa monnieri

water hyssop, herb-of-grace
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS

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 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,pink

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

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:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider

Propagation:

Seed, division, and cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Aquatic -to- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars

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:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Minno, Marc and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. 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.


Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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