Gratiola viscidula

Gratiola viscidula is one of about seventeen North American Gratiola (hedge hyssop) species. The European hedge hyssop (G. officinalis) belongs to the same genus. G. viscidula is distributed in the eastern USA from Florida north to Ohio and west to Missouri. In nature, G. viscidula is a perennial marsh plant that develops a rhizome. It grows in various wet, sunny to semi-shaded places such as stream banks, ditches, ponds and swamps and flowers from June to October.

Under water, the sticky hedge hyssop forms compact cushions and lawns of small, thick-stemmed shoots. The light green, rigid, small submersed leaves taper to a point. The submersed form of G. viscidula has an interesting "prickly" texture.

Gratiola viscidula is still a novelty as an aquarium plant and one of the very first Gratiola species in the aquarium hobby. Aquarists in the USA discovered that it can be kept well submersed. It has also been in cultivation in Europe since about 2012, but is still little known.

At the moment (end of 2013) we still know very little about its cultivation requirements, but the plant does not seem to be particularly demanding and grows rather slowly. With its unusual cushion-like, compact growth, it is certainly interesting for aquascaping.

- To be continued -