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.
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.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether bacopa monnieri fits in your tank.
Plantaginaceae
Stem
Midground to Background
Any
Cuttings
Damp coastal mud flats and marshes worldwide
Cosmopolitan tropics (including South African wetlands)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a slow to medium rate.
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.
Position: midground to background. Substrate: Any It typically reaches 10–30 cm.
Propagation method: Cuttings. Bacopa Monnieri is a stem plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, and 5–18 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
