Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa caroliniana is a stem plant from the wetlands of the southeastern United States, with thick, rounded, slightly fleshy leaves in opposite pairs along an upright stem. The leaves are a soft green with a copper or bronze flush on the upper pairs under good light. Crushed, the plant smells faintly of lemon, which is where the name lemon bacopa comes from. It grows slowly and holds its shape, so it needs less trimming than most stem plants.

Aquarium care

• Plant stems individually in the substrate with a little space between them.
• Moderate light. More light brings out the bronze on the upper leaves.
• Grows without CO2, though growth is slow.
• Undemanding and forgiving, which makes it a sound stem plant for a first planted tank.
• Propagate by cutting a stem and replanting the top section.
• Lower leaves may drop if the stand gets too dense and shades itself.

Works as a mid-ground or background group in a community tank, and its slow growth suits keepers who do not want to be trimming every week.

Stock rotates as new plants arrive, and plants are sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the current live plants.