Bacopa monnieri
Herb of grace
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Bacopa monnieri (Herb of grace) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by . Key features: single-veined leaves, 2 bractlets.
Herb of grace is a naturalized perennial found in southern California Coast and Desert Son Diego regions in wet soil or shallow disturbed wetlands at elevations below 180 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces white to pink or blue flowers approximately 8 to 10 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with small, slender stems, it forms low-spreading clusters in moist environments. Its leaves are narrow and approximately obovate, measuring 5 to 25 millimeters long with a single prominent vein. The small white to blue flowers emerge on pedicels 8 to 40 millimeters long, often extending beyond the leaf length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated. Key features: single-veined leaves, 2 bractlets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet soil or in shallow water, disturbed wetlands
Elevation: < 180 m
Outside California: to southern United States, native to tropics
Bloom period
Bacopa monnieri blooms All year.
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 monnieri native to California?
No. Bacopa monnieri is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Bacopa monnieri bloom?
Bacopa monnieri blooms All year.
What plant family does Bacopa monnieri belong to?
Bacopa monnieri is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Bacopa.
What habitat does Bacopa monnieri grow in?
Bacopa monnieri grows in Wet soil or in shallow water, disturbed wetlands.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.