How to Grow Bacopa Plants

white bacopa

Want easy tips on how to grow bacopa plants? Well read on friends, because we have everything you need to know to help your bacopa thrive. Also called water hyssop, bacopa is a trailing plant that grows between 4 to 8 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. A favorite addition to your window boxes and hanging baskets, it comes in colors ranging from white to blue, and purple or even lavender. As they grow and start to trail, the 10 to 12 inch long stems will bloom with groups of small, five-petal flowers. If you crush the fleshy leaves you’ll find they smell like lemon.

How to Grow Bacopa

Originally from South Africa, Bacopa plants like full sun to part shade locations. If you’re growing outdoors in the ground, plant it at least 6 inches deep and space it about 16 inches apart. It’s a good idea to mix some peat moss into the soil so the ground stays moist. You can also put 3 – 4 inches of mulch down. You’ll want to water bacopa plants well, giving each plant 1 – 2 cups of water.

If they need more water, they’ll let you know in fairly dramatic fashion: bacopa does not wilt when it dries out, but instead loses its flowers. Not to worry, though, if you continue to water it well, it will bloom again in 2 to 3 weeks.

Bacopa also shines in hanging baskets, window boxes, or pots. In this scenario, give them at least 1 inch of water per week, and make sure the soil drains well. Fertilize them monthly with an all-purpose food, or use liquid seaweed every week or two.

Bacopa plant growing in a hanging basket

How to Care for Bacopa

Typically grown as annual plants, bacopa will survive the winter in zones 9 and 10 (you can check your zone here). Maintenance wise, bacopa are easy care. Trim the stems to shape the plants and keep them looking great, but be careful not to over prune. Keep your bacopa blooming by deadheading any old, faded flowers. Prevent disease by removing any old, dead stems from the underside of the plant.

How to Use Bacopa

Bacopa work very well as groundcover at the edge of your flower beds. But its trailing nature make it a stellar addition to hanging baskets and containers. For a real show, mix it up with some calibrachoa, or trailing verbena in pink or dark purple or even go for some trailing Snapdragon in bronze and yellow.

Ready to get started? Choose your bacopa and start designing.

Happy growing!

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