Gratiola viscidula
Check out our updated description in our ABC Plants Encyclopedia or Aquarium Plants
Gratiola viscidula Short’s Hedgehyssop
A very new plant to the hobby that has only recently been discovered, Gratiola is an absolute gem that is native to North America. It is easy to care for, has a unique growth style and will certainly be an exciting new addition to any aquarium! It does not require CO2 though CO2 fertilization will encourage faster, denser growth.
This beautiful plant is uniquely flexible and can be grown tied to rocks or driftwood (like mosses) to give your hardscape some life and texture. It is often found in nature as an epiphyte. It will eventually attach itself to the rocks and driftwood it's been tied to and grow on top of it much like ivy does on old buildings.
Alternatively Gratiola can also be grown as a carpeting plant and will produce a plush, "shag rug" appearance that will immediately give any aquascape a bit of a lush, luxurious appearance.
QUICK NOTES:
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Size: Seldom taller than 5 cm. Usually shorther than 2cm
Native Range: Southeastern United States (First found in the Carolinas)
Position and Use: Carpet to bushy foreground ‘hedge’. Epiphytic: attaches to rocks, driftwood and other hardscape much like ivy. Also usable as an emersed plant in vivariums
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast with CO2, slow to moderate without CO2
Lighting: 3/5 - 5/5
Water Conditions: Highly adaptable, but prefers soft and slightly acidic to neutral (pH of 6 - 7) and temperatures from 15 - 28°C. Suitable to cold-water tanks containing goldfish or native fish
CO2: Beneficial but not required
Reproduction: Stem cuttings
Special Requirements: Appreciates rich substrate if planted but can also be tied to rocks or driftwood where it will eventually attach itself and grow as an epiphyte. Not a fussy plant so regulator aquarium fertilizer will be sufficientEmersed Growth: Can be grown emersed or partially emersed in terrariums, Wabi Kusa or a paludarium. Emersed form is somewhat more compact and robust in appearance than it's featherier submerged appearance.
Description
Native to the Carolinas and common among the margins and shallows of freshwater bodies, Gratiola viscidula is a relative newcomer to the aquarium hobby. It is both low-growing and robust, and can create a unique carpet of green in the foreground. The higher the lighting, the shorter and denser the plant will be; it may even crawl along the substrate in dramatic whorls almost like crop circles. It can also be grown as an epiphyte attached to rocks and driftwood where it is more reminiscent of Ivy.
When pruned infrequently, it adopts a more upright posture and can be grown to resemble garden hedges, true to its nickname “Short’s Hedge Hyssop.” Moreover, Gratiola stems are unique among aquatic plants: smaller, serrated leaves grow around a broad stem, enhancing its spiky, hedge-like appearance.
When grown as a carpet, Gratiola viscidula appreciates a nutrient-rich substrate that is naturally found in older, well-established tanks or can be fertilized with inexpensive root tabs in new setups. Gratiola can be grow quite successfully without CO2 especially as an epiphyte and will thrive with moderate to good lighting alone. As a carpet, we do recommend CO2 fertilization because it will increase the growth rate and density. However, CO2 is by no means necessary for this awesome plant to thrive especially if your tank is fairly shallow or this plant is being grown on tall rocks close to the surface.
This unique and still fairly uncommon plant will complements more traditional foliage of most aquascapes well and is worth a try regardless of your experience or tank maturity - especially if you are looking for an epiphyte to grow on hardscape or want a unique carpet plant that produces as thicker, more "plush" rug in your aquarium.
