Plant Profile
Hydrocotyle Leucocephala, better known as Brazilian Pennywort, is the ultimate fast-growing multitasker from South America’s wetlands. Featuring iconic, half-dollar-shaped circular leaves along creeping stems, this bulletproof plant brings a fun, coin-like texture to any tank. It’s absurdly versatile: anchor it in the substrate, weave it through driftwood, or just let it float at the surface. Give it routine haircuts, and it’ll happily stay put as a tight midground bush or a unique, creeping foreground carpet.
Key Features & Benefits
- Distinctive umbrella-like disc foliage delivers eye-catching visual texture and bright green contrast across foreground, midground, or background zones.
- Fast growth rate acts as an exceptional nitrate sponge, pulling excess water column nutrients to maintain high water clarity and suppress unwanted algae.
Care & Planting Instructions
-
Remove lead weight and 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 stems 1 to 2 inches into substrate, or allow stems to float freely along the water surface for extra shade and cover.
- Provide medium lighting for steady growth; higher light intensity paired with pressurized CO2 injection encourages lower, creeping horizontal growth.
- Maintain stable water parameters and supply quality liquid fertilizers to support rapid leaf development.
- Trim stem shoots with straight scissors anywhere along the stem to encourage denser branching and keep growth under control. 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 leucocephala |
| Common Name(s) |
Brazilian Pennywort, Hydrocotyle Leucocephala |
| Family |
Apiaceae / Araliaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy |
Stem Plant / Floating / Vine |
| Care Difficulty |
Easy to Moderate |
| Light Requirement |
Medium |
| CO2 Requirement |
Not Required (Recommended for carpet effect) |
| Placement / Usage |
Foreground / Midground / Floating |
| Height / Size |
5–10”+ (Creeping/Trailing) |
| Growth Rate |
Moderate to Fast |
| Water Parameters |
pH 6.5–7.5 |
| Propagation Method |
Cuttings / Splitting Clumps |
| Origin |
South America |
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. Can I let Brazilian Pennywort float in my aquarium?
Yes! Brazilian Pennywort takes up nutrients heavily from the water column, making it fully capable of thriving as a floating plant. Floating stems provide excellent cover and shade for shy fish, fry, and dwarf shrimp.
3. My stem plants arrived with round green leaves, but the new growth looks totally different. Is this normal?
Yes! Many aquatic stem plants are cultivated emersed (above water) at plant nurseries, producing rounder, thicker green leaves. Once submerged in your aquarium, the plant will transition into its true aquatic form, sprouting delicate, submerged foliage.
