Bacopa Amplexicaulis

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Blue Waterhyssop; Mint Bacopa; Lemon Bacopa

Synonyms

Bacopa caroliniana (often treated as synonym in trade); Herpestes amplexicaulis; Obolaria caroliniana; Herpestes caroliniana

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Southeastern United States (Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina)

Habitat

Shorelines, marshes, ponds, and slow-moving streams, growing both emersed along wet margins and fully submersed in shallow water

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Stem

Max height

4 – 16 in (10 – 41 cm)

Spread

4 in (10 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Midground, Background

Water

Temperature

68 – 82 °F (20 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

3 – 12 dGH

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green, Pink, Orange

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings, Runners

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Care guide

Overview

Suited to low-tech and long-term aquascapes alike, this stem plant carries thick, fleshy oval leaves that smell of citrus when crushed. Growth is moderate rather than fast, so trimming demands stay low, and foliage shifts from lime-green toward bronze, copper, or pink depending on light and nutrient levels. A nutrient-rich substrate with liquid fertilization keeps leaves full and well-colored.

Care

Lemon bacopa is a sturdy stem plant with thick, fleshy oval leaves that release a citrus-like scent when bruised or trimmed. It tolerates a wide range of water conditions and lighting levels, though brighter light produces denser, more compact growth and richer leaf color. Because it grows relatively slowly for a stem plant, it does not require constant trimming and suits long-term aquascapes as well as low-tech setups.

Planting & trimming

Plant stem cuttings directly into the substrate with aquascaping tweezers, burying the lower nodes so roots can establish while keeping several sets of leaves above the substrate line. Space stems in small groups for a fuller look in the midground or background, and trim from the top or lateral shoots once stems approach the surface to encourage bushier regrowth. Trimmed portions root readily and can be replanted to expand the colony.

Fertilizing

Growth improves with a nutrient-rich substrate combined with regular liquid fertilization, since the plant feeds through both roots and leaves. Low nitrogen levels tend to bring out a bronze cast in the foliage, while low phosphate encourages pink to reddish tones, so these color shifts can be read as informal nutrient indicators. Without supplemental iron and micronutrients, new growth may appear pale or yellowed.

Propagation

Propagation is straightforward by cutting healthy stem tops and replanting them in substrate, where they root within one to two weeks. The plant also produces runners from the base of established stems that can be separated and replanted as new specimens. Because growth is comparatively slow, propagation is less frequent than with fast-growing stem plants but still reliable.

Problems

Insufficient light causes stems to stretch and become leggy with sparse leaves, so trimming tops and replanting cuttings helps maintain a fuller form. Nutrient deficiencies show up as pale, yellowing, or undersized leaves and are corrected with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Algae can settle on the thicker, slower-growing leaves if lighting duration is excessive, so pairing the plant with grazers or adjusting the photoperiod helps keep foliage clean.

Sources

1. SS-AGR-388/AG392: Lemon Bacopa: Bacopa caroliniana
2. Bacopa caroliniana - Tropica Aquarium Plants
3. Bacopa Caroliniana Care Guide – Planting, Growing, and Propagation - Shrimp and Snail Breeder
4. Lemon Bacopa Aquarium Plant Profile | TankFlare

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