Bloomipedia
Herb-of-grace (Bacopa monnieri)
Photo: Jay Horn via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Herb-of-grace

Bacopa monnieri

Native to Florida

Herb-of-grace is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–October.

14states
3,012FL sightings*
7,463U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Bacopa monnieri, also known as water hyssop, brahmi, thyme-leafed gratiola, herb of grace, and Indian pennywort, is a perennial, creeping herb native to wetland areas globally.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–October. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,012 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #100 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist

Herb-of-grace gift ideas

Handmade herb-of-grace gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–October.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (204 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (S2), MD (S1), OK (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Florida. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Edible leaves, eaten raw in mixed salads or cooked as a vegetable. Not poisonous, but can cause nausea, increased intestinal motility, and gastrointestinal upset if ingested in large quantities.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

Edible or not, please don't pick this one. See the note under Conservation status.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records herb-of-grace in 14 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Glades, Gulf, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton.

More Florida flowers

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American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

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Sources