Plants
Brazilian Pennywort
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Origin: Brazilian pennywort comes from Central and South America, from Mexico to Argentina. It grows along shores and shallows, readily shifting from a submerged to a creeping and floating form.
Also known as: Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Fact sheet
- Height
- 40 cm
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 6–7.8
- Lighting
- Medium
- CO₂
- Not needed
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Placement
- Midground, Floating
Overview
Brazilian pennywort is a fast-growing, undemanding plant with rounded leaves on long petioles, one of the easiest for beginners. Its flexible stems can be trained any way: rooted in substrate, left to float, or woven over decor. It grows very fast without CO2 or bright light, cleaning the water of excess nutrients well. Floating shoots give shade and cover. Above water it produces small white inflorescences, which give it its name.
Appearance
Creeping or floating stems bear alternate rounded-kidney-shaped leaves 2–4 cm across on long petioles, light green. The nodes root easily. Height depends on growth direction — stems can trail for tens of centimetres. Small white umbel inflorescences appear above water.
Care
Very undemanding: low to strong light, 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.8. CO2 is not required but speeds growth. It grows fast and needs regular trimming. It tolerates varied conditions and adapts easily.
Fertilizing
It feeds from water and substrate. It has few special needs; macronutrients help during fast growth. A good consumer of excess nitrate.
Breeding
It propagates by cuttings: any stem fragment with a node roots and becomes a new plant. It spreads very fast.
Fun facts
The white umbel inflorescences above water give the species its 'white-headed' name. Thanks to its flexible stems it can be grown rooted, floating, or climbing over decor. It grows so fast that it helps suppress algae in a new tank.