Bacopa
Chaenostoma cordatum
Bacopa blooms from May through October.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Bacopa
Plant it in part sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 9–11. Expect it to reach about 6 in tall and 1.6 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Bacopa
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Bacopa into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from May to October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 9 in February.
Comes in 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Bacopa
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Unlike most annuals, it won't wilt to warn you. Let the soil dry once and the flower buds dry up and drop, costing weeks of bloom. per Illinois
Best light varies by climate
Sources disagree: full sun gives the most bloom where summers are mild, but hot-summer regions do better with afternoon or part shade. Part sun is the safe middle. per NC State and Illinois
Not the same as brahmi
Ornamental bacopa is Chaenostoma cordatum, a South African trailing annual. It is completely unrelated to Bacopa monnieri (water hyssop, brahmi), the edible aquatic herb sharing the name. per NC State and SANBI
No deadheading needed
It is self-cleaning: a non-stop bloomer that sheds spent flowers on its own, so you never need to deadhead. An optional light shear mid-season refreshes a leggy plant. per NC State and Chicago Botanic
Keep tobacco away from it
It is susceptible to Tobacco Mosaic Virus, which spreads on contaminated hands, tools, and clothing (notably from tobacco users) rather than by insects. Buy healthy plants. per NC State and Penn State
Some value to pollinators
A nectar source over its long bloom season: SANBI reports bees pollinate it in its native range, and Chicago Botanic lists it as attracting birds and butterflies. per Chicago Botanic and SANBI
What pairs well with Bacopa
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Azalea
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; stands well above at 3.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Camellia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; stands well above at 6.6 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
False Indigo
Takes full sun to part sun and low to moderate water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; a soft color beside the white.
Sneezeweed
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; a soft color beside the white.
Perennial Sunflower
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; stands well above at 4.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; a soft color beside the white.
Feather Reed Grass
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; stands well above at 4.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; a soft color beside the white.
Northern Sea Oats
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; a soft color beside the white.
Little Bluestem
Takes full sun to part sun and low to moderate water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; a soft color beside the white.
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