Gratiola Viscidula Vitro Culture

It looks thorny, and nothing else in a planted tank does. Gratiola viscidula — Hedge Hyssop — grows short pointed leaves tight against branching stems, giving submerged growth a spiky, almost prickly silhouette that stands out sharply against the soft or broad foliage around it. A North American wetland native, hardy and adaptable. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® (tissue culture) format.

What You'll Receive

Sold as a Vitro Culture® plant in a sealed 4-inch bag:

• Contents: Many small, healthy plantlets in nutrient gel or liquid
• Guarantee: 100% snail-free, algae-free, pathogen-free, and pesticide-free

Plant Profile

• Common name — Hedge Hyssop
• Scientific name — Gratiola viscidula Pennell
• Also known as — Short's Hedgehyssop, Viscid Hedgehyssop
• Origin — North America; wetlands, pond margins and stream edges
• Placement — Foreground to midground
• Shipped size — 4-inch bag of small plantlets
• Mature height — 2–6 in
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Medium to high. Good light is what keeps it compact and spiky
• CO₂ — Not required, though it grows denser with it
• Water — 68–78°F · pH 6.0–8.0. It handles alkaline water most stems dislike
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient substrate, plus water column dosing
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed, flowering white with yellow centers
• Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem tops

Grower's Notes

• You choose carpet or bush. Trimmed low and often it stays flat and spreads into a dense mat; left alone it branches upward into a bushy midground clump. Same plant, two different roles — decide before you plant rather than after.
• It tolerates hard, alkaline water. Most stem plants want soft acidic conditions; this one runs to pH 8.0 without complaint, which makes it a genuine option for hard tap water where the usual midground choices sulk.
• The spiky texture is the reason to buy it. Plant it beside broad or feathery leaves where that contrast reads, not among other fine-leaved stems.
• Rinse the gel off and separate the plantlets before planting, spacing them an inch apart.
• Fast nutrient uptake makes it useful in a newer tank, taking up ammonia and nitrate that would otherwise feed algae.

Notes

• Pictures shown are for reference only; actual plants may vary in size and color. Growth form may differ when transitioning from emersed to submerged conditions.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.