Chaenostoma cordatum (Thunb.) Benth. (syn.: Sutera cordata (Thunb.) Kuntze) (S-Afr.) – A rare but increasing escape from cultivation. Probably first documented from a pavement in the city of Liège in 1999 (Lambinon & De Wergifosse 2000). Soon afterwards recorded in rather numerous, widely scattered localities in urban areas but usually in small number and strictly ephemeral. In a few places, however, persisting for several years (e.g. Brugge, Antwerpen-Linkeroever, etc.). A local, future naturalization in climatologically suitable habitats is not unlikely (compare with Clement 2000).
All Belgian records of Chaenostoma cordatum are from dry, stony, sun-exposed habitats (cracks in pavement, foot of walls, etc.).
In its native South African area Chaenostoma cordatum always has pure white petals. Plants that have been recorded in the wild sometimes have pink or mauve petals. Such plants might merely represent cultivars or be the result of hybridization. In horticulture Chaenostoma cordatum is frequently erroneously referred to as Bacopa.
Selected references:
Clement E.J. (2000) Will Sutera cordata become established in Britain? BSBI News 83: 36-37. [available online at: http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews83.pdf]
Lambinon J. & De Wergifosse E. (2000) Trouvailles floristiques: Une nouvelle mode en horticulture et un nouveau xénophyte pour la Belgique : Sutera cordata (Scrophulariaceae) sur un trottoir à Liège. Natura Mosana 53(2) : 65-66.