Short stiff leaves that give the stems a spiky look — easy to recognise and unlike anything else at the front of a tank. Trimmed low it turns into a cushion, left alone it stands as a small bush.
- Light
- medium
- Difficulty
- medium
- Height
- 3 – 10 cm (1.2 – 3.9 in)
Native rangeRange on the map
- Alabama
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Tank conditions
- Leaf colour
- green
- Plant type
- stem plant
- Growth rate
- slow
- CO₂ demand
- medium
- Tolerates light
- medium – high
- Placement
- midground, foreground
- Propagation
- cuttings, division +1 cuttings, division, daughter plants
- Grows emersed
- yes
Care and keeping
Appearance
Narrow pointed leaves set close along thin stems 3–10 cm tall, light green, standing out at angles rather than lying flat. The stems branch readily, so a group looks dense.
Keeping
Moderate demands and slow growth: it wants clean water and good light, and carbon dioxide helps. The slowness is an advantage at the front of the tank — the shape stays where you cut it for a long time.
Placement
The front or middle of the tank. Cut low it becomes a carpet; left alone it makes a rounded cushion.
Propagation
By cuttings: cut a shoot and plant it. Dense clumps can be pulled apart.
Cultivars
The same plant with a different look: light, water and care are shared with the species.
Other varieties: Gratiola viscidula 1 2 GROW
Scientific and other names, conservation status
- Other scientific names
- Gratiola anagallis, Gratiola shortii, Gratiola virginica, Gratiola viscidula shortii, Gratiola viscidula typica, Gratiola viscidula viscidula, Gratiola viscosa, Gratiola viscosa drummondii
- Gratiola viscidula
- Pennell
- Family
- Plantaginaceae