Bacopa Caroliniana Red

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Red Lemon Bacopa; Bacopa Red; Giant Red Bacopa

Synonyms

Bacopa sp. "Colorata"

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Southeastern United States, Mexico

Habitat

Marshes, wet ditches, and slow-moving or shallow freshwater margins, growing both submersed and emersed in areas of strong sun exposure

Sourcing

Captive-bred

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

5.5 – 7.5

dKH

2 – 18 dKH

PAR

50 – 150 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green, Pink, Orange, Red, Brown

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings, Runners

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Care guide

Overview

Suits mid to high-light freshwater tanks kept by growers willing to dose iron and micronutrients for color. Thick, fleshy oval leaves grow upright on a moderate-paced stem, staying olive green under weak light but shifting toward pink, salmon, and bronze tips under stronger illumination. Easy and CO2-optional, it works well as a background or midground planting propagated by cuttings.

Care

This is a hardy, upright stem plant with thick, fleshy, oval leaves that carries a mild citrus scent when crushed. It tolerates a wide range of water hardness and does not require CO2 injection, though supplemental CO2 produces sturdier stems and richer color. Strong lighting is the key driver of its pink, salmon, and bronze shoot-tip coloration; under weak light it reverts to plain olive green with stretched internodes.

Planting & trimming

Plant stem cuttings directly into a nutrient-rich substrate in small groups, spacing them a couple of inches apart to allow bushy growth. As stems grow tall and lose lower leaves over time, top cuttings can be trimmed and replanted to keep the display dense and full. Because it grows strictly upright with a slow to moderate pace, it does not need frequent trimming once established.

Fertilizing

Color intensity depends heavily on iron and micronutrient availability, so regular dosing of an iron-rich liquid fertilizer is recommended alongside a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. Low phosphorus tends to push the foliage toward pinkish tones, while low nitrogen encourages a bronze hue in new growth. Pale, washed-out leaves or thin weak stems usually signal insufficient light or a lack of iron rather than a nutrient deficiency in the substrate alone.

Propagation

Propagation is done by taking cuttings from the top or lateral shoots and replanting them in substrate, where they root readily. The plant can also produce runners from the base of the stem, which can be separated and replanted as new plants. Emersed-grown specimens may flower with small blue to purple blooms, though propagation from seed is not practiced in the hobby.

Problems

Loss of pink or red coloration and leggy, weak stems typically indicate insufficient light intensity rather than disease. Lower leaves can drop or thin out if the plant is kept too shaded at the base, especially in tall setups where upper growth blocks light from reaching lower portions of the stem. It is not particularly prone to melt after planting, though cuttings may shed a few older leaves while establishing new roots.

Sources

1. Bacopa sp. "Colorata" Aquatic Plant Care | Atlarium
2. Bacopa caroliniana "Colorata" - in Vitro | Aquasabi
3. How to grow Bacopa caroliniana/Colorata & B. Salzmannii - The 2Hr Aquarist
4. Bacopa caroliniana - Tropica Aquarium Plants

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