Fin & Stem logo
Bacopa monnieri growing as a planted-aquarium foreground species
PlantStem

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa monnieri

Cosmopolitan tropics (including South African wetlands)Beginner

TL;DR, Bacopa Monnieri

Compact, slow-growing stem with small succulent oval leaves, the slow-tempered alternative to bacopa caroliniana. Native to South African wetlands so it tolerates local hard water without complaint. Trimmed tops re-root cleanly; old bottom growth can be left to bush out instead of being uprooted.

Bacopa Monnieri (Bacopa monnieri) is a stem aquatic plant for the midground to background of a planted tank. It reaches 10–30 cm under good conditions and grows at a slow to medium rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: optional. Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, and 5–18 dGH. Substrate: Any. Propagate via cuttings.

  • LightMedium to High
  • CO₂Optional

Care at a glance

Compact, slow-growing stem with small succulent oval leaves, the slow-tempered alternative to bacopa caroliniana. Native to South African wetlands so it tolerates local hard water without complaint. Trimmed tops re-root cleanly; old bottom growth can be left to bush out instead of being uprooted.

Updated 1 min read

Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.

Leaves yellowing, pitting, or new growth coming in pale or twisted? Work out what it’s short of in our plant deficiency guide.

Tank fit

The parameters that decide whether bacopa monnieri fits in your tank.

Parameters

Temperature22–28 °C
15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C
pH6.5–7.5
4.05.06.07.08.0
Hardness5–18 dGH
0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH
Height10–30 cm
020406080
LightMedium to High
Low
Medium
High
CO₂Optional
None
Optional
Recommended
Required
GrowthSlow to Medium
Slow
Medium
Fast
V. fast
FlowLow to Medium
Still
Low
Medium
High
V. high

Profile

Family

Plantaginaceae

Type

Stem

Position

Midground to Background

Substrate

Any

Propagation

Cuttings

Habitat

Damp coastal mud flats and marshes worldwide

Cosmopolitan tropics (including South African wetlands)

Kit for this plant

Who it lives with

Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.

Weighing it against something similar? Compare Bacopa Monnieri head to head:

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.

Does Bacopa Monnieri need CO₂?

CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a slow to medium rate.

What light level does Bacopa Monnieri need?

Bacopa Monnieri (Bacopa monnieri) needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.

Where should Bacopa Monnieri be planted?

Position: midground to background. Substrate: Any It typically reaches 10–30 cm.

How do you propagate Bacopa Monnieri?

Propagation method: Cuttings. Bacopa Monnieri is a stem plant.

What water parameters does Bacopa Monnieri tolerate?

Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, and 5–18 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.

Is Bacopa Monnieri suitable for beginners?

Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.

Sources & further reading

More plants

Adjacent specimens in the catalogue.

See all plants
Plant

Anubias Barteri Nana

Anubias barteri var. nana

Anubias Nana (Anubias barteri var. nana)

Almost impossible to kill. Tie or glue to hardscape, never bury the rhizome. Susceptible to Anubias rot if rhizome is damaged; trim brown leaves at the base.

BeginnerWest Africa (Cameroon)
Cross-references

Build the rest of the tank.

A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.