Hydrocotyle Verticillata
Plant Profile
Hydrocotyle Verticillata, commonly known as Whorled Pennywort, is a unique, fast-growing aquatic plant native to North and South America as well as the West Indies. Characterized by its miniature umbrella-like, circular green leaves that grow off distinct upright stalks, this versatile species adds a whimsical, woodland texture to any aquascape. Equally suited for submerged aquarium growth or emerging above the surface in open-top tanks and paludariums, frequent trimming paired with strong lighting easily trains Whorled Pennywort into a dense, low-growing foreground carpet.
*Form Notice: Photos display this plant in both its emersed (above-water) and submerged forms. Depending on nursery availability and seasonality, you may receive this plant in either form. Learn more about what to expect by reading our guide on Emersed vs. Submerged-Grown Aquatic Plants.
Key Features & Benefits
- Charming mushroom-shaped circular leaves provide a distinct visual contrast against standard stem and fine-leaved foliage.
- Versatile creeping growth habit can be trained into a low foreground carpet or allowed to form bushy midground groups.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Remove lead weight and remove cotton wrap (or foam) surrounding the base, then strip lower foliage so bare stems anchor cleanly into soil without rotting.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to push individual stem runners 1 to 2 inches into substrate, spacing them apart so light reaches lower growth.
- Provide medium-to-high lighting for steady growth; higher light intensity paired with pressurized CO2 injection encourages low, horizontal runner spreading.
- Maintain stable water parameters and supply quality liquid fertilizers or aquarium soil to support rapid leaf development.
- Trim runners with straight scissors anywhere along the stem or pull apart dense clumps to propagate and keep growth compact. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hydrocotyle verticillata |
| Common Name(s) | Whorled Pennywort, Hydrocotyle Verticillata |
| Family | Apiaceae / Araliaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Stem Plant / Creeping Runner |
| Care Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Not Required (Recommended for carpet effect) |
| Placement / Usage | Foreground Carpet / Midground |
| Height / Size | 5–20” (Can be kept low with pruning) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.5–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Cut Runners / Split Clumps |
| Origin | Americas / West Indies |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining adequate light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. How do I keep Whorled Pennywort low as a foreground carpet?
To keep Whorled Pennywort low and creeping, provide bright lighting and pressurized CO2. High light encourages shorter leaf stalks and forces runners to grow horizontally along the substrate rather than reaching vertically.
3. How do I transition Hydrocotyle Verticillata from emersed to submerged growth?
When transitioning from emersed to submerged growth, plant bare stems securely into rich substrate under medium-to-high lighting and keep water parameters stable. As new growth adapts, the plant will shed its firm land leaves and sprout delicate, compact underwater foliage. Once new shoots develop, trim away old lower growth to encourage dense branching.