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Bacopa australis

Compact trailing stem plant — reddens in good light, suits mid to foreground

Regular price
£8.99
Regular price
Sale price
£8.99
  • Hurry, only 4 items left in stock!
Quick Facts

Rating:

Common name: Southern Bacopa

Origin: South America

Position in Aquarium: Foreground

Grows up to (cm): 30 cm

Pot Size: 5 cm

Growth rate: Medium pace

Description

Bacopa australis is a compact, versatile stem plant from southern Brazil (the name means 'southern' — it has nothing to do with Australia) with small, rounded leaves and a trailing habit that makes it useful in the mid to foreground of most aquariums. Under good light it takes on an attractive reddish hue; in moderate light it remains a fresh, pale green. Given the right conditions it will creep across the substrate, gradually forming a low, spreading cushion.

It is easy to grow and propagate: trim stems and replant the cuttings in the substrate, where they establish quickly and produce new growth. CO2 supplementation encourages denser, more lush growth but is not essential. Unlike many stem plants, it is notably compact, making it a good choice where you don't want a plant racing straight to the surface.

Plant in groups, leaving a little space between stems for water flow. Trim regularly to encourage lateral branching and a bushy, well-structured form.

Plant Sizes

You’ll receive a healthy, rooted plant in a pot, similar to those shown. Each one is hand-checked before dispatch.

Shipping

Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 4pm, Monday to Friday. Tracked 24 Service from £4.99, DPD Express from £6.99.

Bacopa australis (Australian bacopa) Tropica
Bacopa australis (Australian bacopa) Tropica
Bacopa australis (Australian bacopa) Tropica
Bacopa australis (Australian bacopa) Tropica
Bacopa australis (Australian bacopa) - Aqua Essentials
Bacopa australis

Customers praised this aquarium plant for "growing beautifully" with "brilliant light green foliage" and fast growth. Most received healthy plants in excellent condition. However, some reported arrival issues with limp or deteriorating plants. Several noted it requires high lighting (4000+ lumens) to thrive. Shoppers recommend buying multiple pots for good coverage.

  • Fabulous little plant with brilliant light green foliage. Highly recommended!
  • Very lovely bright green plant that looks fab in my aquarium. Received quite a big bunch.
  • Lots of stems per pot and nice long roots. After a day stems are reaching up and growing.
  • 5 stars: 22 (73%)
  • 4 stars: 4 (13%)
  • 3 stars: 1 (3%)
  • 2 stars: 1 (3%)
  • 1 star: 2 (7%)
S
Samuel

Great plant

C
Customer
Review

My experience with Aqua Essentials has always been a positive one. I am a loyal customer and intend to stay that way. However unfortunately on this occasion the Bacopa plant has arrived looking dead. I tried to save a few stems by planting them in my tank but the few stems just didn't make it. The rest of my order was perfect.

J
Jan M.
Review

It arrived in a fairly good condition but went very long thin in less than a week it looked terrible. I dug it up and put it in another tank and it has revived. I'm not sure what happened as both tanks have about the same light and I use fertiliser on both.

A
Andy T.
Review

Looks different to what the pic shows you. When it arrived it was growing up as apposed to what the pic shows. Still a great plant and a bargain.

G
Gwyneth C.
Review

Sorry looked very limp when it arrived, did not last a week, it came apart in the tank. Not good

A
Annamaria F.
Review

Very lovely bright green plant that looks fab in my aquarium. Received quite a big bunch so very happy with it.

E
Emily J.
Review

Growing beautifully

T
Tom C.
Review

very quick delivery. all healthy and good looking plants

T
Terry B.
Review

Great plant and grows fast

D
Douglas L.
Review

This plant is growing very well????????

S
Scott R.
Review

Arrived in good time and its still alive 3 weeks later so, so far so good

K
Ken B.
Review

Good space filler mine needs cutting back already after one week.

K
Katarzyna J.P.
Review

Very beautiful, it was first time I orders the Bacon, very bushy and flowing. Some leaves detach, maybe fish has something to do with it, I have a goldfish. It seems to be a happy plant in my aquarium.

T
Tina C.
Review

very good plants

M
Mike P.
Review

Arrived within a couple of days we’ll packaged and in excellent condition. An attractive addition to the tank.

K
Kevin O.
Review

I received this plant in food condition and it is nice but quickly found this plant deteriorated as I don't have strong enough lighting, I use a beamswork evo18, 3x10 watt 1850 lumens, this plant requires high lighting probably about 4000 lumens minimum.

V
Vijaya F.
Review

Great, healthy plants delivered exactly as described. Growing well , thriving

B
Barbara M.
Review

Plants arrived quickly and in great condition, look great in my aquarium. Early days but all looks promising.

D
Dominika M.
Review

This plant looks lovely in my fish tank and grows very well.

C
Ciara B.
Review

Arrived in good condition, lovely plant

H
Harry T.
Review

Didn't look particularly well when it arriived (my other plants all looked great) and now seems to be deteriorating in the tank. Happy with the service and other plants apart from that!

S
Stephen G.
Review

This is a fabulous little plant. Already, after about ten days it is beginning to grow in height, and has brilliant light green foliage. A super addition, and one that I hope in time will go on to increase in size still further. Highly recommended!

T
Tony M.
Review

Excellent service and quality of plants. This is the usual service I have enjoyed over the years I have dealt with Aqua Essentials

C
Chris J.
Review

Aqua essentials has been my supplier of choice for plants for several years and have yet to dissapoint.

C
Charlotte I.
Review

lots of stems per pot and nice long roots. very tender stems so be careful when planting, after a day in my tank the stems are reaching up and growing already

A
Amber W.
Review

Substantial, lovely plant - would recommend buying at least 3 pots of this for a decent "quick" coverage. However, one pot separates out lovely and efficiently.

s
steve c.
Review

new shoots already 3 days

p
paul m.
Review

Thriving and the fish love them :P

G
Gary H.
Review

Arrived in excellent condition and very fast. Very happy indeed and look well in my aquascape.

L
Lesley W.
Review

Like all plants purchased from AE, they arrived promptly and in great condition. As a newbie to planted aquariums AE are helping me enormously in this. Valuable advice and great, fast service.

Product FAQs

Helpful details before you buy.

How does Bacopa australis differ from Bacopa monnieri?

Australis is smaller-leaved, more compact, and has a trailing growth pattern suited to the midground. Monnieri grows more upright and taller. Both are easy, but australis stays lower.

Why is it called australis if it's from Brazil?

Australis means 'southern' in Latin — it was discovered in southern Brazil. A common point of confusion.

Does it need CO2?

No — it grows without CO2, though supplementation produces noticeably denser growth and a more vivid red hue.

How do I propagate it?

Trim stems and replant the cuttings directly into the substrate. They establish quickly.

Will it spread across the substrate?

Yes — in good conditions it will creep and spread, forming a low spreading cushion. Not a dense carpet, but a natural, attractive spreading effect.