Short's Hedge Hyssop
Gratiola viscidula
Plantaginaceae
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About
A compact stem plant from the swamps, ditches and stream margins of the eastern United States, and a genuine marsh plant that flowers happily above water. Submersed it builds dense, flat, light-green cushions of thick rigid shoots barely 1.5-2 cm wide; the small pointed leaves sit in opposite pairs and give the whole plant a curiously prickly, thorny look that nothing else in the hobby matches.
Care
Medium light over a nutrient-rich substrate is the core requirement, plus liquid ferts for the water column. CO2 is not strictly mandatory, but at 6-14 mg/L it is what separates a tight bush from a thin, stalled one, so treat it as strongly recommended rather than optional. Trimming is the whole trick: cut the tops and the plant branches sideways instead of climbing, holding a 10-20 cm midground cushion. Expect very slow growth even when everything is right, and note that its temperate origin lets it sit in cool tanks down to about 15 C.
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Short's Hedge Hyssop need?
- Short's Hedge Hyssop does best at 15–28 °C (59–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–16 °dGH.
- Where should Short's Hedge Hyssop be placed in the aquarium?
- Short's Hedge Hyssop works best in the midground and reaches around 20 cm.
- Is the Short's Hedge Hyssop suitable for beginners?
- Short's Hedge Hyssop sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.