Bacopa (Brahmi / Water Hyssop) Plant

Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi / Water Hyssop) – edible, water-loving herb with a beautiful cascading growth habit!

Bacopa monnieri, also known as Brahmi or Water Hyssop, is a fascinating edible herb that grows naturally in wet and marshy areas throughout tropical and subtropical regions. It has small succulent green leaves, delicate flowers and a creeping growth habit that makes it both useful in the kitchen and beautiful in an edible landscape.

Brahmi has a long history of use in Ayurvedic traditions and is commonly sold today as an ingredient in herbal supplements, including products marketed for memory and cognitive support. This listing is for the live plant as an edible and ornamental herb and is not intended to make any medical or health claims.

In Vietnamese cuisine, this bitter herb is known as rau đắng (“bitter vegetable”) and can be eaten fresh or cooked. It is especially delicious added to hot pot, where the slightly bitter flavor complements rich broths. I also enjoy adding a few fresh leaves to salads, sandwiches or using them as a garnish.

One of the coolest things about Bacopa is how much it loves water! It naturally grows around ponds, streams, marshes and other damp areas and can even be grown as an aquatic or semi-aquatic plant. This makes it an interesting choice for pond edges, water gardens and planted aquariums.

It is also incredibly easy to propagate. The stems creep along the ground and can develop roots wherever the nodes make contact with moist soil. Over time, one plant can spread into a lush green mat.

Its trailing habit also makes Bacopa wonderful for edible landscaping and container arrangements. Allow it to cascade over the edge of a pot, grow it as a living groundcover, or combine it with taller edible plants for a beautiful layered container garden.

Growing Instructions:

• Part sun to part shade is ideal.

• Can tolerate sun when provided with plenty of moisture.

• Loves consistently moist or wet soil.

• Can tolerate occasional short dry periods, but grows best when kept moist.

• Excellent for containers, pond edges, water gardens and other damp areas.

• Can also be grown as an aquatic or semi-aquatic plant.

• Creeping, mat-forming growth habit with trailing stems.

• Beautiful cascading over the sides of containers and raised beds.

• Stems readily root where the nodes touch moist soil, making it very easy to propagate.

• Pinch or trim regularly to encourage fuller, bushier growth.

• Can be harvested as needed for culinary use.

• Perennial in warm, frost-free climates.

• Protect from hard frost and freezing temperatures.

• In colder climates, grow in a container and overwinter in a bright, protected location.

Culinary Uses:

The leaves have a distinctive bitter, fresh herbal flavor. In Vietnamese cooking, rau đắng is commonly enjoyed as a fresh herb or added to soups and hot pots. A little goes a long way! Try a few leaves in salads, sandwiches, soups or as an edible garnish.

What you will be receiving:
1 fully rooted Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi / Water Hyssop) plant in a pot.