Blue Waterhyssop

Bacopa caroliniana

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Blue Waterhyssop?

Physical Characteristics:

Leaves:

• Lemony scent when crushed
• Relatively thick
• 1/8^th inch wide
• 5/8^th inch long
• Almost round
• Opposite
• Covered in fine hairs

Flowers:

• Blue-dark blue in color
• Small
• 4-5 petals

Stem:

• Hairy upper stem

Where Does it Grow?

Blue waterhyssop can be found in fresh or brackish waters.

Pros and Cons of Blue Waterhyssop

Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.