Bacopa is a trailing perennial that is perfect for hanging baskets, containers and providing ground cover at the front of borders. Originally from South Africa, it is grown as an annual in the UK, because it isn’t frost hardy and won’t survive temperatures below 5ºC. It produces a mass of tiny flowers over a long period, from June through to October, in either white, pink or blue.
The Latin name for bacopa is Chaenostoma cordata, formerly known as Sutera cordata, which can make it confusing searching for plants to buy online. When buying bacopa, it’s also worth bearing in mind that there is another plant genus called Bacopa, also known as water hyssop, and this plant family is comprised of many aquatic plants.
Bacopa, the annual trailing plant, is a great pick for container displays because it will keep flowering without the need for deadheading and, unlike many bedding plants, is a good plant for pollinators. It also grows well in partial shade.
Bacopa is a gorgeous flowering plant that can add charm and color to any garden. Though it happily self-seeds in the landscape, pollinating your bacopa by hand can take its growth and yield to the next level. Proper pollination leads to more abundant blooms and fruits that will supply you with seeds for future plantings. Follow this handy guide to pollinating your bacopa for optimal results.
There are several popular varieties of bacopa including ‘Blue Showers’ with light blue flowers and ‘Snowflake’ which blooms white. The small flowers have five petals and grow in clusters along trailing stems.
The flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts. However, hand pollinating the blooms instead of relying on wind or self-pollination enhances fruit and seed production.
Why Pollinate Bacopa Plants?
Here are some of the key benefits of pollinating your bacopa by hand
- Produces more fruits and seeds for future propagation
- Results in larger, more abundant blooms through the season
- Promotes overall plant vigor and health
- Maximizes the yield and lifespan of each plant
- Allows you to breed your own varieties by crossing different plants
Properly pollinated plants put more energy into growing fruits and seeds after flowering rather than just going dormant
How to Hand Pollinate Bacopa Step-By-Step
Pollinating the blooms only takes a few minutes per plant. Follow these steps
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Use a small, soft paintbrush, cotton swab, or fingertip to transfer pollen.
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Identify flowers that are fully open and receptive to pollen.
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Gently brush pollen from the stamens in the center of the flower.
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Transfer the pollen to the stigma of another flower on the same or different plant.
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Repeat for multiple flowers to ensure good pollination rates.
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The best time to pollinate is morning when pollen is most viable.
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Pollinate every few days during peak bloom season.
Tips for Successful Bacopa Pollination
Beyond the basic technique, here are some useful tips:
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Fertilize plants regularly to encourage prolific blooms.
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Provide full sun and grow in rich, well-draining soil.
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Deadhead spent flowers to promote more buds.
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Group a few plants together to make pollinating easier.
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Identify male and female flowers which have subtle differences.
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Gently shake or fan plants to distribute pollen.
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Ensure proper moisture – don’t pollinate wilting flowers.
Signs of Effective Pollination
How can you tell your hand pollination was successful? Watch for:
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Swelling ovules that will develop into fruits/seed pods.
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Fruits forming 1-2 weeks after pollinating.
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More substantial and abundant fruit set.
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Larger, fuller blooms and longer bloom period.
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Increased seed production visible when fruits dry.
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Visible pollen grains on the stigma of flowers post-pollination.
Collecting and Storing Bacopa Seeds
Once fruits fully develop and dry out, you can collect seeds:
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Harvest dry pods and separate seeds from debris.
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Allow seeds to further dry fully before storing.
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Place seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot.
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For best viability, use seeds within 1-2 years. Discard any that appear moldy.
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Label seeds by variety and year harvested.
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Store seeds properly until ready to use for sowing or sharing.
The Benefits of Pollinating Bacopa Flowers
In addition to boosting your yield, hand pollinating bacopa has many advantages:
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Produces seeds for sowing more plants at no cost
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Allows you to breed your own unique bacopa varieties
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Results in healthier, more robust plants overall
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Maximizes the number and size of blooms you enjoy
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Promotes higher fruiting for use in herbal remedies
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Provides seeds to share and spread bacopa with other gardeners
The small effort of pollinating by hand pays off all season long with a prolific bacopa plant. Give it a try and see the bounty of blooms and seeds your plants can produce!
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How to care for bacopa
Bacopa is a low-maintenance bedding plant. Water regularly, especially during hot weather and if it’s planted in a hanging basket or container, as these dry out quickly during the summer. Feed regularly throughout the growing season with a general purpose liquid feed, if growing in containers.
Bacopa plants will die in the heat, if they are not watered, and if left out overnight when there’s a frost.
Pruning – it’s not necessary to deadhead bacopa, it will remain tidy without being trimmed and keep flowering into the autumn. As it’s a trailing plant, it doesn’t need to be pruned into shape to encourage bushiness and will only grow to around 20cm high.
How to propagate bacopa
The easiest way to make more bacopa plants is by taking stem cuttings between March and August. Cut a shoot around 10-15cm long. Trim the cutting at the bottom, just below a leaf joint and remove the leaves from the bottom half. Insert the cutting into a pot of compost and wait for it to root. Alternatively, you can put it in a jar of water and wait until roots have formed, then pot it up.
Bacopa is not prone to many pests, and is generally disease free and easy to look after. The one pest you may see occasionally are aphids. Either remove aphids by hand and squash or leave them for the birds to feed on. If the infestation is severe, try using a jet of water to spray off the pests.
Pollination process – the key to building the high yield | CROP GUIDES
FAQ
Can you split bacopa plants?
How do you keep bacopa blooming all summer?
How can I make my bacopa grow faster?
Does bacopa like full sun or shade?
How to propagate Bacopa plants?
Propagation is the process of creating new plants from existing ones. In this article, we’ll discuss the different methods of propagating bacopa plants. One of the easiest ways to propagate bacopa plants is through stem cuttings. Here’s how to do it: Cut a 4-6 inch long stem from the mother plant. Remove the leaves from the bottom part of the stem.
Will a Bacopa grow in a USDA zone?
A bacopa will grow well in most USDA growing zones, but the length of its season will vary depending on the region. One of the most important factors to keeping your bacopa looking healthy is to diligently water the bacopa plant throughout the summer. For bacopa, you’ll know they need water when the top inch of soil is dried out.
How long does a Bacopa plant take to grow?
A: Bacopa cuttings typically take around 2-3 weeks to root. Q: Can I propagate my bacopa plant in water? A: Yes! Bacopa plants can be propagated in either soil or water, depending on your preference.
Is Bacopa a perennial?
Bacopa can grow as a perennial in warmer climates, but cooler climates may have to settle for growing it as a summer annual. Fans of Nintendo may recognize bacopa’s other common name, the Pikmin flower! This name comes from the Nintendo video game characters that grow these flowers on their heads. You can plant bacopa in full sun to partial shade.