Bacopa monnieri
If you’ve visited the supplement aisle of a health food store, you’ve definitely come across bacopa.
It’s the main ingredient in all kinds of pills, powders, and extracts that claim to boost brainpower and sharpen memory.
While these supplements are not going to turn you into Einstein, the plant that they’re made from, sometimes called water hyssop, is a worthy addition to your garden, terrarium, or aquarium.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
It’s perfect for soggy areas, creating a carpet of gorgeous greens and pale blossoms.
Hardy in Zones 8 to 11, bacopa is ideal for those with a heavy watering hand or wet feet in the landscape. Let it creep along pond margins, tuck it into a hanging basket, or trail it from a high shelf indoors.
Can’t wait to learn more? Here’s what we’re about to discuss about this beloved herb:
Bacopa is an evergreen perennial with glossy, elliptical, fleshy green leaves that grow opposite from one another on fleshy stems.
The plant typically stays under a foot tall and grows about three feet wide, but it can grow up to three feet tall in an aquatic environment.
Quick Look
Common name(s): Water hyssop, brahmi, herb of grace, Indian pennywort
Plant type: Herbaceous evergreen perennial
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 8-11
Native to: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Middle East
Bloom time / season: Year round, spring, summer, fall blossoms
Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
Soil type: Moist, rich, well-draining or aquatic substrate
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5, slightly acidic to neutral
Time to maturity: 1 year
Mature size: Up to 4 feet wide by 6-12 inches tall (taller when grown in water)
Best uses: Ground cover in wet areas, aquariums, terrariums, herbal medicine
Taxonomy
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Bacopa
Species: Monnieri
Native to warm, wet, tropical or subtropical regions across the globe, from the southern US and Hawaii to India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and parts of Africa. B. monnieri has naturalized in California and is considered invasive in regions such as Spain and Japan.
It’s also known as brahmi, baby tears, coastal waterhyssop, Indian pennywort, water purslane, smooth or Monnier’s water hyssop, thyme-leaved gratiola, herb of grace, and ʻaeʻae in Hawaiian.
This semi-aquatic plant thrives in waterlogged or poorly drained soil, tolerates brackish water, and is often found in coastal areas.
Its tolerance for standing water makes it popular in aquariums, bogs, and ponds. It’s also fantastic ground cover that can handle foot traffic and produces impressive blooms.
From spring through first frost, bacopa displays faintly pink, blue, or white bell-shaped flowers with five petals. In mild climates, it can bloom year-round.
Bacopa is an important larval host of the white peacock butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) in the southern US.
Traditionally, it’s used to support memory, relieve insomnia, and help manage epilepsy.
In the US, the plant is often dismissed as a weed, but the supplements made from it have gained widespread popularity.
The leaves contain many compounds including triterpenoid saponins, alkaloids, and phytochemicals, that show potential pharmacological benefits.
With that in mind, let’s talk about what water hyssop can really do as a supplement.
While it’s often hyped as a miracle herb that can cure Alzheimer’s disease, this claim is unproven.
In fact, the FDA has issued warnings to manufacturers against promoting it as a treatment for Alzheimer’s, anxiety, hypoglycemia, hypertension, or digestive disorders.
That’s not to say that it’s useless. Several clinical trials suggest that it can improve memory, but only after weeks of use and only to a limited degree.
How to Grow
This moisture-loving tropical herb thrives in a variety of settings, from garden beds and containers to aquariums and ponds.
Whether you’re growing it submerged or on land, the key to success is constant moisture and plenty of sun.
Water
Bacopa can literally grow in water, so don’t ever let it dry out. Even a single day of dry soil can kill the plant.
You should aim for the soil to feel like a well-wrung-out sponge at all times.
In some areas during dry times of year or indoors in the winter when the heat is on, you might need to water every day.
If you are worried the soil is too dry, add water. It’s better to err on the side of too much than too little water.
Do you know how gardeners always tell you to empty the dish or tray that catches the water that drains out of the container? Don’t empty it.
In fact, you should fill it up. The moisture will absorb into the soil from the tray or dish as needed.
Light
Provided that you can keep up with the water needs, bacopa prefers full or partial sun, with six or more hours of sunlight per day. Indoors, you might need to provide supplemental lighting.
Heat isn’t a problem, as this plant is from tropical regions, but it can’t handle even a moment of drought.
That means if you live in a warm area, you’ll either need to water very frequently or grow it in a pond, stream, or other moist area.
Soil
In garden beds, B. monnieri prefers moist, nutrient-rich, and well-draining soil.
It can adapt to various soil types, including clay, loam, or sand, provided they retain moisture without becoming waterlogged.
To enhance moisture retention and fertility, amend your garden soil with organic matter such as compost or peat moss. Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
If you decide to grow the plant in a container, choose a water retentive potting medium.
I use Tank’s Pro Potting Mix. It’s available in one and a half cubic foot bags at Arbico Organics.
Fertilizing
If you are growing bacopa in an aquarium or pond, there’s no need to fertilize. In the ground, fertilize with a mild, balanced food once every three months.
I’m a fan of Dr. Earth’s Pump & Grow because it comes in a convenient pump container and is made using food scraps that would go to waste from grocery stores.
You can pick up 16 ounces at Arbico Organics if you’d like to give it a try.
Where to Buy
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this plant at a nursery unless they carry aquarium or pond plants, but it’s also available online.
For example, you can pick up a live plant in a small aquarium basket at Amazon.
Maintenance
Prune away any dead or damaged growth as you see it.
Dry soil, temperature extremes, or even high heat can cause dieback, and those patches won’t regenerate so go ahead and snip them off to keep things tidy.
You can also give your bacopa a bit of a haircut in the late winter if you want to encourage bushier growth.
Just use a clean pair of shears and lightly cut it back. The plant responds well to pruning and will come back even fuller.
The white and pink flowers appear in the spring and can persist through fall. A little deadheading can encourage more flowering if they start to fade early.
In ideal conditions, this plant can spread aggressively. Keep an eye out for runners popping up in places you didn’t intend.
If it starts growing out of bounds, dig up unwanted stems and roots to keep it in check.
Propagation
Bacopa is easy to propagate from seeds, stem cuttings, or division.
From Seed
Growing from seed takes time, warmth, and lots of moisture. Start seeds about four months before temperatures reach 70°F outdoors.
If you intend to grow your plants indoors year-round, you can start any time, ideally in spring or summer.
Sow seeds on the surface of a moist seed-starting mix and press them in gently, don’t cover.
They need light to germinate, so place the tray in a bright window or under grow lights for at least four hours a day.
Use a heat mat set to 75°F and cover with plastic or glass to retain humidity.
Keep the soil moist and check for mildew daily. If you see any forming, spritz the medium with a five percent water and bleach solution. Germination takes 10 to 20 days.
After the seedlings sprout and develop true leaves, thin to one every three inches or transplant extras into small pots.
Move them to their final location when they are well established in their pots and temperatures are above 70°F.
From Cuttings
Bacopa propagates quickly from stem cuttings. While you can root them in water, I prefer using a water-retentive potting mix for stronger transplants.
Fill small containers with drainage holes with a suitable potting medium. Set the containers in a tray filled with water to keep the medium evenly moist.
Find a long stem and make a cut just underneath a leaf or leaf node, which is the spot where leaves emerge from. If the stem is particularly long, you can cut it into sections.
Each section should be at least two inches long and should have a leaf node at the base. Remove all but the top two leaves.
Dip in rooting hormone if desired, then insert about an inch deep into the medium and firm up the soil around it. Keep the medium consistently moist, don’t allow it to dry out at all.
Cuttings typically root and begin to grow within a few weeks, though timing varies with season and temperature.
By Division
If your bacopa is thriving, it’s likely to spread. Take advantage by dividing it to create more plants.
Lift the plant from the container or gently dig up a clump. Separate out a few stems, making sure each has roots attached.
Replant these divisions just as you would a transplant and keep the soil consistently moist while they establish.
Transplanting
Bacopa is often sold at aquarium and terrarium supply stores. It’s a popular choice for aquatic setups and frequently comes in small mesh baskets.
If you’re growing in an aquarium or pond, you can simply submerge the basket into the substrate.
For container planting, remove the plant from the basket and repot it in a moisture-retentive potting mix. It looks especially nice in a hanging basket.
Outdoors, bacopa works well as a spreading ground cover in consistently moist areas.
To transplant, dig a hole slightly wider than the rootball and plant at the same depth. Loosen the roots, place in the hole, firm the soil, and water thoroughly.
Space plants about eight inches apart to allow room for spreading.
Pests and Disease
Bacopa is relatively problem-free, but there are a few issues that can cause problems.
Pests
Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that feed on leaves and stems, causing yellowing foliage, stunted growth, and potentially spreading disease. If you spot curled or discolored foliage, check for clusters of tiny, soft-bodied insects.
Whiteflies are tiny flying insects that also use their sucking mouthparts to draw out the sap from host plants, causing stunting and leaf yellowing.
If you notice little clouds of flies popping up when you walk near your plants, you’re likely looking at whiteflies.
Disease
Because bacopa thrives in high humidity and wet soil, the plants can attract fungal pathogens like those that cause powdery mildew.
This disease causes a powdery, flour-like dusting on the leaves and sometimes stems, which can slow growth. It rarely kills the host plant.
Harvesting
To harvest, use clean scissors to snip off stems and leaves as needed. Just be sure not to remove more than half the plant at once to allow for healthy regrowth.
Drying is the best way to preserve bacopa. The dried leaves can last up to six months when stored properly.
After harvesting, rinse the stems and leaves, then let them dry on a towel. Spread them in a single layer on a dehydrator tray or baking sheet.
Dehydrate at 95°F until crisp. If you don’t have a dehydrator, place the sheets in a well-ventilated, shaded area and turn the leaves every few days until they’re dry and crunchy.
Store the dried leaves in an airtight glass jar, zip-top bag, or vacuum-sealed pouch. For short-term storage, you can keep fresh leaves in a bag in the crisper drawer for up to a week.
Uses
The supplement industry in the United States is largely unregulated, which means that a manufacturer doesn’t have to prove that their supplement contains what they say it does.
So that bacopa “memory enhancing” supplement you see on the shelf? It could contain mostly dried lawn clippings instead of the active compounds that make bacopa so wonderful.
When you grow your own, you know you’re getting the real deal. Plus you have the pleasure of enjoying the plant as it matures.
Bacopa is relaxing but you stay sharp, or even sharper than you were before with regular use, according to numerous small studies.
To take advantage of the triterpenoid saponins this plant contains, you can consume up to 10 grams of fresh leaves per day, divided into smaller doses. Toss a few into a salad, brew them into tea, or simply chew them raw.
Note that if you consume large quantities of the leaves, you might experience some digestive upset.
And always remember to consult your healthcare professional before taking any kind of supplement.
A Brilliant Addition to the Home or Garden
Whether you grow bacopa to harvest the leaves and stems as a supplement or you just want something to fill in a swampy spot in your garden, this plant is an excellent addition.
What are your goals for growing bacopa? Are you interested in adding color to an aquarium? Or hoping to give your memory a boost? Let us know in the comments section below!
And for more information about growing other medicinal herbs, check out these guides next:
