Bacopa - is a still little-known perennial plant that is valued for its unpretentiousness, abundant flowering and decorative appearance. It is native to South Africa, but grows well in our conditions.
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This plant with long drooping shoots can be used both as an ampelous (indoors and outdoors) and as a groundcover.
Bacopa is… not bacopa
Bacopa has changed its name several times, which is why there has been some confusion. Let's try to figure it out.
Bacopa is a name that is widely used in ornamental gardening, but it is not entirely botanically accurate. In fact, the plant that we are accustomed to calling bacopa belongs to the genus Sutera and has the scientific name Sutera diffusus (spreading sutera), or Sutera cordata (cordate sutera).
Previously, this plant was part of the genus Bacopa and that is when it got its name. However, later botanists revised the classification and allocated it to a separate genus Sutera. But despite this, gardeners still call the plant bacopa.
There is another name that is sometimes found in literature - henostoma cordatum. The reason is that earlier, back in the late 19th century, in some classifications bacopa was attributed to the genus Henostoma. At the moment, this name is used less often.
Let's summarize:
- The botanically correct name of the plant is sutera;
- The most popular garden name is bacopa;
- The old, sometimes used name is henostoma.
- Most often in gardening stores and catalogs, the plant is sold under the name bacopa, so that's what we will call it.
Description of bacopa
Bacopa is a perennial herbaceous plant that is grown as an annual in the middle zone.
It is distinguished by its small height - 10-15 cm. Its drooping, heavily foliated shoots can reach 30-60 cm in length, due to which bacopa is often used in hanging pots, containers and as a ground cover plant.
Bacopa leaves are small, heart-shaped, with smooth or slightly serrated edges, dark green. The plant acquires particular attractiveness during the flowering period, when the bush is literally strewn with flowers. The flowers are small (1-2 cm in diameter), simple or double, with five rounded petals; they are formed in the axils of the leaves along the stem. They can be white, blue, lilac, pink or purple - depending on the variety.
Flowering is long: it lasts from spring to late autumn (for indoor specimens - all year round), and the plant does not lose its decorative effect even during prolonged rains. Another important advantage of bacopa is its ability to self-clean: wilted flowers fall off on their own, so plant care is reduced to a minimum.
Growing bacopa
One of the main advantages of bacopa is its unpretentiousness. However, to achieve the maximum decorative effect, it is worth considering several important conditions.
Soil. Bacopa prefers light, fertile soils with good drainage. Excess moisture can lead to root rot, so when planting in containers, do not forget about the drainage layer.
Lighting. Bacopa grows well both in the sun and in partial shade. However, in conditions of insufficient light, flowering may become less abundant.
Temperature. The optimal temperature for active growth and flowering is from 18 to 25 ° C. But bacopa can withstand short-term cold snaps down to -5 ° C.
Reproduction of bacopa
Bacopa is propagated in two main ways: by seeds and cuttings. Both methods have their own characteristics, advantages and requirements.
Propagation by seeds
Growing bacopa from seeds requires some patience, as the plant develops slowly. Seeds are usually sown in late February or early March so that the seedlings are strong enough by the time they are planted in open ground.
The seeds are very small, so they are not buried in the soil, but only slightly pressed into a pre-moistened substrate. For sowing, use a light, loose soil mixture based on peat with the addition of sand or perlite. Containers are covered with transparent film or glass to create a greenhouse effect.
The optimal temperature for germination is 20-22 ° C. Shoots appear in 10-14 days, after which the cover is gradually removed. When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, they are picked into separate pots so that the plants can develop without competition. Due to the lack of natural light, it is advisable to provide additional lighting for seedlings.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are a faster and more reliable way to propagate bacopa, allowing you to get strong plants in a short time. Cuttings are prepared in spring or autumn, using 8-10 cm long apical shoots from mother plants.
The cut cuttings are cleared of lower leaves and placed in a container with water or directly into a light substrate. To speed up rooting, you can treat the cut with a root formation stimulator (for example, Kornevin, etc.).
When rooting in a substrate, the cuttings are deepened by 2-3 cm and covered with a film or a transparent plastic lid, creating greenhouse conditions. After 2-3 weeks, when roots appear, young plants can be transplanted into separate pots or directly into open ground.
Transplanting seedlings to a permanent location
Transplanting bacopa into open ground or containers is carried out in late May - early June, when the threat of night frosts has passed. By this time, the plants should be well rooted and have a developed root system.
Before transplanting, the soil is thoroughly loosened and, if necessary, improved by adding compost or humus. If bacopa is planted in containers, it is important to ensure good drainage: expanded clay or gravel is poured onto the bottom of the container.
The seedlings are planted at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other, leaving enough space for each plant to grow. After planting, bacopa is watered abundantly to speed up adaptation to new conditions.
Caring for bacopa
Although bacopa is considered an unpretentious plant, it is important to follow several rules of care to maintain its decorative appearance.
Watering should be regular and frequent enough, especially on hot days, because bacopa does not tolerate drying out of the soil. But at the same time, you cannot allow moisture to stagnate at the roots.
Fertilizers are applied once every 10-14 days, especially during the period of active growth and flowering. For fertilizing, use complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants (Agricola for flowering plants, etc.). During the period of active growth, fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus are especially useful, promoting abundant flowering.
If bacopa is grown as a perennial, the plant can be cut in the fall and transferred to a cool room (10-15 ° C) for wintering. With proper care, it will begin to actively grow and bloom again in the spring.
Using bacopa in landscape design
Due to its decorative qualities, bacopa is widely used in landscape design, decorating balconies, terraces, flower beds and rockeries. One of the most spectacular ways is to place the plant in hanging flowerpots and balcony boxes. Long shoots covered with flowers create picturesque cascades, especially if you plant bacopa next to petunia, lobelia or verbena.
Another option is to plant it in open ground, where bacopa can serve as a groundcover plant, as it forms a dense "carpet" of greenery and flowers. In this capacity, it is used in the design of garden paths, rockeries and alpine slides.
It is also great for combined plantings with other plants. Bacopa often serves as a background for larger flowers or is used as a living border for flower beds.
Due to its versatility, bacopa fits perfectly into various styles of garden design. It can be grown as an independent plant or combined with other crops, creating expressive long-flowering compositions. And all this - with minimal care.