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Bacopa Plant: Outdoor Growing Tips for a Beautiful Garden

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The delicate pastel flowers and finely textured foliage of bacopa plants belie its tough nature. Most often grown as an annual, this blooming workhorse provides summer-long color with very little effort. Whether used as a cascading accent in a hanging basket or a sprawling ground cover in the landscape, bacopa combines well with other plants and is virtually carefree, making it a versatile choice for home gardeners.

From the time of planting until frost. Bacopa is sensitive to extreme heat and may not bloom as well during the hottest part of summer. Newer varieties are bred for heat resistance.

Dainty dime-sized flowers have a yellow eye, with petals in pastel hues of white, pink, blue, or lavender. Small leaves are rounded with toothed margins, occurring in colors of green, gold, or variegation.

Deer will leave bacopa alone for the most part, though extreme conditions can result in deer grazing on plants they wouldn’t otherwise.

Bacopa plants grow in a sunny to lightly shaded site. Plants will flower best in full sun.

For beds and borders, loosen soil in the planting site, work in soil amendments and space plants 10 to 12 inches apart. For containers, plants can be spaced slightly closer together.

Flowers are self-cleaning; no deadheading is necessary. Plants can be lightly pruned to size if they become overgrown.

For beds and borders, amend soil with compost or other rich organic matter and provide good drainage. Optimal soil pH is 5.6 to 5.9. For containers, use a high quality all-purpose potting soil that drains well.

Keep plants evenly moist, but don’t overwater. Unlike most plants, bacopa doesn’t wilt when drought-stressed; instead, the flowers and buds will drop off. It takes a couple of weeks for plants to recover and set new buds. TIP: Place with another plant that does wilt such as coleus, verbena, or petunia, which will serve as an indicator to show when the soil is too dry.

Apply a balanced water-soluble fertilizer according to package instructions every 2 to 3 weeks for landscape plants, or every 1 to 2 weeks for containers.

When grown in the right conditions, bacopa experiences few problems. Possible pests include aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, or thrips. Botrytis, powdery mildew, root or stem rot can occur from overwatering or poor drainage.

Bacopa, also known as Sutera cordata, is a gorgeous trailing plant that can add beauty and color to any outdoor space. With its dainty flowers and lush green foliage, bacopa is perfect for containers, hanging baskets, borders, and as a low-maintenance ground cover. Growing bacopa is simple, but following some key tips will ensure your plants thrive.

Choosing the Best Spot for Bacopa

Bacopa thrives when given the right amounts of sun and shade. Bacopa plants prefer 5-6 hours of sunlight per day with some shade in the hottest afternoon sun. An ideal bacopa location would receive morning sun and afternoon shade.

While bacopa can tolerate some midday sun, too much direct light can cause the leaves to yellow and flowers to fade. Try to avoid south-facing locations that receive sun all day East or west-facing spots are ideal

If you don’t have a naturally shaded area, you can create some respite by planting bacopa near taller plants, shrubs, trees, fences or structures that provide afternoon shade. Bacopa also does well under shade covers and awnings.

The Best Soil for Healthy Bacopa Plants

Bacopa prefers moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH between 5.6-5.9. Before planting your bacopa, test your soil’s pH and amend if needed.

While bacopa grows in most soils, sandy loam or loam soils enriched with compost or organic matter provide ideal drainage and nutrients. Clay soils can be improved by mixing in compost, peat moss or small gravel to improve drainage.

If your soil doesn’t drain well, create raised garden beds or plant bacopa in containers and use a quality potting mix. Make sure the container or planter has drainage holes.

Watering Needs for Bacopa

Consistent moisture is key for bacopa. The plants depend on evenly moist (but not soggy) soil. Allowing containers or garden beds to completely dry out can cause bacopa to wilt and stop blooming.

Plan to water bacopa at least 2-3 times per week in the ground, and daily for plants in containers and hanging baskets. Increase frequency during hot and dry weather. Always water close to the soil to keep foliage dry and prevent disease.

Feeding Bacopa for Maximum Blooms

To fuel growth and prolific blooms, bacopa benefits from regular fertilization during the growing season. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer like 10-10-10 or fish emulsion.

For in-ground plantings, fertilize every 2-3 weeks. Potted bacopa should be fed weekly. Always follow label directions to avoid burn.

As an alternative, you can add slow-release fertilizer beads into the soil at planting time. This will provide a steady feed of nutrients for several months.

How to Use Bacopa in Garden Designs

A versatile plant, bacopa can be incorporated into gardens in many creative ways:

  • Cascading out of hanging baskets and containers
  • Planted between stepping stones or bordering garden paths
  • Used as a drought-tolerant groundcover on slopes and bare areas
  • Underplanting roses, shrubs, trees and taller annuals
  • Softening the edges of raised garden beds and retaining walls
  • Adding color and texture along fences and property lines

Bacopa’s trailing habit looks beautiful spilling over container edges. It also mixes nicely with other annuals like petunias, marigolds, salvias, and verbena.

Caring for Bacopa in Pots and Containers

With its trailing stems, bacopa is perfectly suited for container gardening. Plant in a quality potting mix, allowing about 10 inches between plants. Make sure containers have drainage.

Situate containers and hanging baskets in locations protected from hot afternoon sun. Keep soil consistently moist through daily watering. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer every 7-10 days.

Prune back any overgrown or unsightly growth as needed to keep plants tidy. Other than that, minimal care is required for potted bacopa.

Growing Bacopa from Seed

While bacopa can be grown from seed, it’s easier for beginners to start with young plants from a nursery. If you do start from seed, plant 8-10 weeks before your last frost date.

Sow seeds indoors in seed starting mix. Barely cover with soil as bacopa needs light to germinate. Keep the soil moist and provide warmth and indirect light. Thin seedlings and transplant outside after all chance of frost.

Is Bacopa an Annual or Perennial?

Bacopa is a perennial in tropical climates, but grown as an annual in most U.S. regions where it dies back with winter freezes. However, potted bacopa plants can be overwintered indoors in cooler climates and treated as a perennial.

Common Pests and Diseases

Bacopa has few serious pest or disease problems. Aphids may sometimes infest plants. Rinse them off with a strong spray of water, or use insecticidal soap if needed.

High humidity can lead to fungal issues like powdery mildew. Allow good air circulation and avoid wetting foliage when watering. Apply fungicides at first signs of disease.

Enjoy Months of Colorful Blooms

One of the best parts of growing bacopa is the months of continuous blooms you’ll enjoy from late spring until fall frost. The 1” starry flowers come in white, pink, purple or blue. Deadheading is not needed.

With proper site selection, rich soil, ample water and fertilizer, your bacopa plants will reward you with a carefree carpet of delicate blossoms. It’s easy to see why bacopa is a favorite for containers and garden beds.

Bacopa offers a graceful, romantic look with its trailing stems and abundant blooms. Follow these outdoor growing tips for bacopa, and you’ll be rewarded with stunning plantings that require minimal care. Bacopa brings four-season color whether used in borders, containers, or as a groundcover. For an easy yet beautiful addition to your landscape, look no further than the bacopa plant!

bacopa plant outdoor growing tips for a beautiful garden

AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.

The delicate pastel flowers and finely textured foliage of bacopa plants belie its tough nature. Most often grown as an annual, this blooming workhorse provides summer-long color with very little effort. Whether used as a cascading accent in a hanging basket or a sprawling ground cover in the landscape, bacopa combines well with other plants and is virtually carefree, making it a versatile choice for home gardeners.

Snowstorm® Giant Snowflake® bacopa. (Sutera cordata). Photo by Proven Winners.

Generally grown as an annual, but may overwinter in Zones 9-11

Mounding trailing habit, 3 to 12 inches tall, 10 to 36 inches wide

Full sun to partial shade; bloom is most prolific in full sun

From the time of planting until frost. Bacopa is sensitive to extreme heat and may not bloom as well during the hottest part of summer. Newer varieties are bred for heat resistance.

Dainty dime-sized flowers have a yellow eye, with petals in pastel hues of white, pink, blue, or lavender. Small leaves are rounded with toothed margins, occurring in colors of green, gold, or variegation.

Deer will leave bacopa alone for the most part, though extreme conditions can result in deer grazing on plants they wouldn’t otherwise.

Plant outside in mid-late spring after all danger of frost is past.

Bacopa plants grow in a sunny to lightly shaded site. Plants will flower best in full sun.

For beds and borders, loosen soil in the planting site, work in soil amendments and space plants 10 to 12 inches apart. For containers, plants can be spaced slightly closer together.

Flowers are self-cleaning; no deadheading is necessary. Plants can be lightly pruned to size if they become overgrown.

For beds and borders, amend soil with compost or other rich organic matter and provide good drainage. Optimal soil pH is 5.6 to 5.9. For containers, use a high quality all-purpose potting soil that drains well.

Keep plants evenly moist, but don’t overwater. Unlike most plants, bacopa doesn’t wilt when drought-stressed; instead, the flowers and buds will drop off. It takes a couple of weeks for plants to recover and set new buds. TIP: Place with another plant that does wilt such as coleus, verbena, or petunia, which will serve as an indicator to show when the soil is too dry.

Apply a balanced water-soluble fertilizer according to package instructions every 2 to 3 weeks for landscape plants, or every 1 to 2 weeks for containers.

When grown in the right conditions, bacopa experiences few problems. Possible pests include aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, or thrips. Botrytis, powdery mildew, root or stem rot can occur from overwatering or poor drainage.

VARIETIES OF BACOPASwipe to view slides

Photo: Proven Winners

Snowstorm® Giant Snowflake®Buy now from Proven Winners Sutera cordata

9-11, usually grown as an annual

Mounding trailing habit, 4 to 8 inches tall, 20 to 36 inches wide, 36 inches long

The clean white flowers go with most other colors and any garden style. The shorter stature and long trailing habit makes this a good choice for hanging baskets and window boxes.

Also try Snowstorm® Snow Globe® for a more mounded globe habit (less trailing) with white flowers.

Photo: Proven Winners

Snowstorm® PinkBuy now from Proven Winners S. cordata

9-11, usually grown as an annual

Mounding trailing habit, 4 to 10 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

The taller stature makes a statement in the landscape as pathway edging or in mass plantings. Use as a stand-alone accent in a basket or in combination with other pastel-hued annuals with similar needs.

For a slightly darker pink, try Snowstorm® Rose.

Photo: Proven Winners

Snowstorm® BlueBuy now from Proven Winners S. cordata

9-11, usually grown as an annual

Mounding trailing habit, 4 to 10 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

Combine the pale lavender-blue flowers with other pastel-hued annuals. Plant in containers or use as edging along a pathway.

For a lighter blue flowering bacopa, try Snowstorm® Glacier Blue™.

Photo: Hort Pics / Millette Photomedia

Scopia® Golden Leaves White S. cordata

9-11, usually grown as an annual

Mounding trailing habit, 4 to 6 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide

The Scopia® Series was developed for better heat tolerance and more continuous flowering. Use this unique gold-leafed form as an accent in a container in combination with other plants with complementary foliage such as purple coleus or purple fountain grass.

Photo courtesy Ball Seed

Big Falls™ Dark Pink S. cordata

9-11, usually grown as an annual

Mounding trailing habit, 8 to 12 inches tall and wide

Dark pink flowers are more intensely colored than most other varieties. Combine with other brightly hued plants to make a dramatic statement in the landscape.

Brooklyn Heights container recipe. Photo by Proven Winners.

Bacopa is best used as “spiller” element in a container, or as a spreading groundcover in the landscape. Use as pathway edging, in mass plantings, hanging baskets, window boxes, and upright containers.

The pastel shades of bacopa flowers combine well with silver-foliaged plants. Place alongside lamb’s ears, dusty miller, Helichrysum ‘Silver Mist’ or ‘Silver Mound’ artemisia for an elegant touch.

For a pastel-themed basket, try this Brooklyn Heights recipe (pictured).

How to Grow Bigger Hanging Baskets

FAQ

How do you keep bacopa blooming all summer?

Fertilizing regularly will help keep your bacopa blooming. Use a water-soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer and apply it during a watering session. Fertilize landscape plants every month and container plants every 2 weeks.

Where is the best place to plant bacopa?

If planted in full sun, it can do fine as long as it’s kept well-watered. Plant bacopa in part shade for best results with the least amount of care required.

Does bacopa like full sun or shade?

Bacopa can survive in full sunlight or partial shade, but it will produce the most flowers in sunlight. If your plant is in full sun, make sure to regularly check that the soil is not drying out because bacopas need a lot of moisture. 2. Water your plant liberally.

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