Giant Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana): an easy, fragrant plant for aquariums, summer tub ponds, and ponds
A versatile plant: submerged and emerged
Giant Bacopa is a hardy amphibious plant. Its thick leaves release a very surprising lemony fragrance when crushed. It grows both underwater and above water, and flowers easily (small mauve flowers with 4 petals) as soon as it can emerge, in an open-top aquarium or pond. Outdoors, its creeping stems root along damp banks and form mats of beautiful soft green.
Why add Giant Bacopa?
- Easy and tolerant: no CO2 required, and not fussy about substrate (even plain sand).
- Unique lemony fragrance and small decorative flowers.
- Suitable for low-tech aquariums, summer tub ponds, and ponds.
- Extremely easy to propagate from cuttings (cut and replant); horizontal layering is also possible, as the plant roots at each node.
- Wide temperature range: 5 to 30 °C (protect exposed parts from frost).
- Foliage may take on coppery hues under strong light. Otherwise, it is a bright, soft green.
- Can tolerate slightly brackish water.
Planting and growing tips
- Plant the stems in small groups to create dense clusters.
- Low to high light; the brighter it is, the more pronounced the growth and coloration.
- Prune regularly to keep it in check and replant the tips as cuttings. Or let it grow above the water in an open-top aquarium.
- In a pond: let the stems spread along waterlogged banks. Trim excess if needed.
- Protect from frost before winter: the plant regrows from the base kept frost-free at the bottom of the water.
Possible uses
- Low-tech aquarium: a midground or background plant; may flower in an open-top tank.
- Summer tub ponds: fast growth, easy flowering, and readily grows above the water.
- Ponds & damp banks: creeping stems form decorative ground-covering mats.
- Aquaponics / hydroponics: a highly adaptable plant whose vigorous growth consumes nitrates.
FAQ - Giant Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana)
Does it need CO2?
No, it grows very well without CO2 injection.
How tall can it grow?
In a pond, stems can reach up to 1 m. In an aquarium, about 30 to 50 cm.
Is it cold-hardy?
The exposed parts are frost-sensitive. Keep a frost-free base (under deep enough water) or indoors to regrow in spring.
Is the citrus scent easy to detect?
Its scent can be detected by crushing the leaves during pruning or maintenance, and all parts of the plant produce this very distinct, very strong fragrance.
Can it tolerate slight salinity?
Yes, it can tolerate slightly brackish water.
Additional information
- Scientific name: Bacopa caroliniana (syn. B. amplexicaulis)
- Plant type: fragrant amphibious plant
- Light: low to high; its growth is proportional to light intensity.
- Temperature: 5 to 30°C. It cannot withstand frost if it reaches its base.
- Size: 30 to 50 cm in an aquarium (may emerge in an open tank). 1 meter in a pond for its creeping stems.
- Packaging: 3 stems (approximate weight: 10 g).
- Guarantee: free of rock wool and any artificial substrate of any kind.
- Recommendation: as a precaution, please never release this plant into the wild. It is not native to our regions and should not normally become naturalized, but we must protect our ecosystems.
