Bacopa Myriophylloides

It is a bit more demanding than common Bacopa. It wants good light and does best with CO2, which keeps it compact and full. It will still grow in a low-tech tank, just more slowly and a little leggier, so it suits aquarists ready to give it a little extra attention.

It is not strictly required, but strongly recommended. With CO2 and good light it grows compact, dense, and full of its fine feathery leaves. Without CO2 it grows slowly and can get leggy, so run pressurized CO2 if you want it looking its best.

It looks best in the midground or lower background, planted in a group so the fine, feathery stems read as a soft mass rather than a few thin wisps. Its light, airy texture makes a nice contrast against broader-leaved plants around it.

Trim the tops and replant the cuttings. Each trimmed stem branches, so regular trimming builds a fuller, denser group over time. Keep several stems planted close together and it reads as one soft, feathery bush.

It has fine, needle-like leaves arranged in whorls around each stem, giving it a soft, feathery, almost pine-like texture in bright green. It is one of the more unusual, delicate-looking stem plants and adds a light, airy accent you do not get from broader-leaved species.