Water Hyssop (Bacopa caroliniana) with floating ring

Water Hyssop (Bacopa caroliniana) Pond Plant

Water Hyssop (Bacopa caroliniana) is a versatile perennial pond plant that can grow in part shade through to full sun. Also known as Lemon Hyssop, it produces attractive green foliage and small blue flowers with a lemon-like scent when the leaves are crushed.

One of the reasons Water Hyssop is such a useful addition to a water garden is its ability to grow in different positions. It can be planted in shallow water, grown with its foliage above the surface or allowed to grow submerged, where it can act as an oxygenating pond plant.

When grown in a floating pond ring, Water Hyssop can trail its roots and foliage into the water, creating valuable cover and shelter for fish and tadpoles.

Why you'll love Water Hyssop

• Easy-to-grow perennial pond plant
• Also known as Lemon Hyssop
• Produces delicate small blue flowers
• Lemon-scented foliage when crushed
• Suitable for part shade through to full sun
• Can grow above and below the water surface
• Can be planted in water up to approximately 20cm deep
• Acts as an oxygenating plant when fully submerged
• Excellent for creating cover and habitat for fish and tadpoles
• Helps absorb nutrients from pond water
• Can be grown in a floating pond ring for an attractive trailing effect

Where to grow Water Hyssop

Water Hyssop is particularly versatile, making it suitable for several areas of the water garden. It can be grown in shallow water up to approximately 20cm deep, with foliage either above or below the water surface.

For a beautiful natural effect, grow Water Hyssop in a floating pond ring. The plant can trail across the surface while its roots and foliage extend into the water, providing shelter and cover for pond life.

Water Hyssop is also suitable for boggy areas and shallow pond margins.

Water Hyssop as an oxygenating pond plant

When Water Hyssop is grown completely submerged, it can contribute to oxygenation within the pond. Its ability to grow both submerged and above the water makes it a useful choice when you're looking for a versatile pond plant with multiple roles.

Water Hyssop and pond water quality

Water Hyssop can help absorb nutrients from pond water as it grows. Nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates are naturally produced within a pond and can contribute to excessive algae growth when present in high concentrations.

Adding a variety of healthy aquatic plants is one part of maintaining a balanced pond ecosystem. Water Hyssop can be particularly useful because it combines nutrient uptake with oxygenation, habitat and attractive foliage.

Water Hyssop flowers

The small blue flowers are one of the easiest ways to identify Water Hyssop. The foliage also has a distinctive lemon-like scent when crushed, which is why the plant is sometimes called Lemon Hyssop.

Water Hyssop Plant Information

Plant type: Perennial aquatic pond plant
Botanical name: Bacopa caroliniana
Common names: Water Hyssop, Lemon Hyssop
Origin: USA
Position: Part shade to full sun
Flowers: Small blue flowers
Water depth: Up to approximately 20cm
Foliage: Can grow above and below water
Oxygenating: Yes, when grown submerged
Growth habit: Spreading/trailing
Best for: Pond cover, fish and tadpole habitat, shallow water, boggy areas and oxygenation

Grow Water Hyssop in a floating pond ring

Our floating pond rings make it easy to add Water Hyssop to your pond without complicated planting. Simply place the plant into the ring and position it on the water surface.

As it grows, the foliage can spread and trail while the roots extend into the pond, creating a natural hiding place for fish and tadpoles.

Looking for more plants for your pond? Browse our full range of Pond Plants Online and find flowering, floating, oxygenating, native and habitat plants for your water garden.