Bacopa eisenii
Gila river water hyssop
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Bacopa eisenii (Gila river water hyssop) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by . Key features: long pedicels >> leaf, exserted anthers.
Gila river water hyssop is a native perennial found in the Great Valley and eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in muddy places, rice fields, and shallow water habitats at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces white flowers with yellow throats approximately 10 to 14 millimeters long. Growing with stems that bear leaves 12 to 34 millimeters long, it spreads across wet soils with obovate to nearly round leaves featuring more than six prominent veins. Its leaves have a distinctive palmate vein structure, with broad leaf blades that help the plant thrive in wet environments. The flower's anthers are notably extended, standing prominently above the white and yellow corolla.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: long pedicels >> leaf, exserted anthers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Muddy places, rice fields; wet soil or rooted and floating in shallow water
Elevation: < 100 m (< 1200 in SNE)
California counties: Merced, Fresno, Butte, Kern, Inyo, Alameda, Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, Sutter, Glenn
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Bacopa eisenii blooms May-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Myoporum: Bacopa is tiny creeping aquatic; Myoporum is woody shrub with spotted flowers.; vs Chaenostoma: Bacopa has rounded succulent leaves; Chaenostoma has narrow linear leaves.; vs Callitriche: Bacopa has visible petaled flowers; Callitriche has no petals, just tiny green flowers.; vs Cabomba: Bacopa has simple oval leaves; Cabomba has finely divided fan-like submerged leaves.; vs Portulaca: Bacopa grows in wet mud; Portulaca grows in dry ground with thick cylindrical leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bacopa eisenii native to California?
Yes. Bacopa eisenii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bacopa eisenii bloom?
Bacopa eisenii blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Bacopa eisenii grow?
Bacopa eisenii occurs in Merced, Fresno, Butte, Kern, Inyo, Alameda, Sacramento, Yolo and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m (< 1200 in SNE).
What plant family does Bacopa eisenii belong to?
Bacopa eisenii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Bacopa.
What habitat does Bacopa eisenii grow in?
Bacopa eisenii grows in Muddy places, rice fields; wet soil or rooted and floating in shallow water.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.