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 is a popular plant known for its beautiful flowers and ease of care. However, like any plant, bacopa can suffer from diseases that affect its health and appearance In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common bacopa plant diseases, how to identify them, and effective treatment methods
Common Bacopa Plant Diseases
Here are some of the most prevalent diseases that impact bacopa plants
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Powdery Mildew – This fungal disease appears as a white or gray powdery coating on leaves, stems, and flowers. It thrives in humid environments.
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Root Rot – Root rot is caused by overwatering or poor drainage. It creates prime conditions for fungus growth. Symptoms include wilting, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth.
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Leaf Spot – Bacterial leaf spot manifests as small brown spots on foliage. These spots can expand and cause leaves to yellow and drop.
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Downy Mildew – Unlike powdery mildew, downy mildew forms fuzzy mold on leaf undersides. It causes curled, distorted, yellowed foliage.
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Botrytis Blight – The fungus Botrytis cinerea causes flower blight and gray mold. It often occurs in cool, humid weather.
How to Identify Bacopa Diseases
Accurately diagnosing bacopa diseases takes keen observation. Here’s what to look for:
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Powdery white/gray coating on leaves – powdery mildew
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Wilting and yellowing – root rot
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Small brown leaf spots – leaf spot
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Underside leaf mold – downy mildew
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Flower blight and gray fuzz – botrytis blight
If you spot any of these symptoms, take action right away to treat the issue.
Effective Treatments for Bacopa Diseases
Fortunately, there are several effective treatment methods for common bacopa diseases:
Powdery Mildew Treatments
- Prune and remove infected plant parts
- Apply sulfur fungicide spray
- Increase air circulation around plants
- Reduce humidity levels
Root Rot Treatments
- Remove plants from overly damp soil
- Trim rotted roots
- Repot in well-draining soil
- Allow soil to dry between waterings
Leaf Spot Treatments
- Remove and destroy spotted leaves
- Apply copper fungicide spray
- Improve leaf wetness by watering at soil level
Downy Mildew Treatments
- Remove and destroy affected foliage
- Apply fungicides containing chlorothalonil or mancozeb
- Reduce humidity around plants
Botrytis Blight Treatments
- Remove diseased flowers and stems
- Use fungicides with active ingredients like boscalid or fenhexamid
- Promote air flow around plants
Prevention of Bacopa Diseases
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to plant diseases. Here are some tips:
- Choose disease-resistant bacopa varieties
- Disinfect gardening tools between uses
- Avoid overhead watering
- Provide good air circulation
- Monitor soil moisture and avoid overwatering
- Remove diseased debris from around plants
- Don’t work around wet plants
By properly identifying and treating issues early, you can maintain healthy, vigorous bacopa plants. Be vigilant for signs of disease and take prompt action at the first symptoms. With care and prevention, your bacopa will continue thriving through the seasons.
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® Pink — Buy 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® Blue — Buy 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).
Guidelines for Diagnosing Plant Problems
FAQ
How do I bring my bacopa back to life?
Why is my bacopa plant dying?
How do I know what disease my plant has?
Why are my bacopa flowers turning brown?
Does Bacopa need a lot of maintenance?
Bacopa is a low-maintenance flowering plant that will proliferate with many blooms in the right environment. Beyond regular watering and feeding, bacopa just needs a little regular maintenance to look its best. Bacopa plants thrive with some sun in the morning and more shade in the afternoon.
How do you care for a Bacopa plant?
Beyond regular watering and feeding, bacopa just needs a little regular maintenance to look its best. Bacopa plants thrive with some sun in the morning and more shade in the afternoon. 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.
How do you treat Bacopa?
For bacopa, specifically, you can do the following on top of the treatment tips shared on that page: Remove infected leaves – pick each infected leaf, disinfecting your fingers with methylated spirits or rubbing alcohol after every leaf. Simply dip your fingers in the alcohol between picking leaves.
Is Bacopa a perennial?
Bacopa plant (Sutera cordata) is simple to grow and produces abundant blooms from spring until autumn. It’s a trailing plant, making it an excellent option for hanging planters, container gardens, and groundcover. Bacopa will usually grow to no more than 6-12 inches high. It can be grown as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11.