Plants

Hydrocotyle tripartita

BeginnerFreshwater

Origin: Hydrocotyle tripartita comes from Southeast Asia and Australia. It grows on wet shores and shallows; in the hobby the compact 'Japan' form is especially popular.

Also known as: Hydrocotyle sp. 'Japan', Hydrocotyle tripartita

Fact sheet

Height: 5 cm
Temperature: 20–28 °C
pH: 6–7.5
Lighting: Medium
CO₂: Recommended
Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Foreground, Midground

Overview

Hydrocotyle tripartita is a popular carpeting plant with small three- to five-lobed leaves resembling clover. The compact 'Japan' form is especially well known, forming a dense bright green carpet in the fore- and midground. Under good light and CO2 it creeps over the bottom and rocks; under weak light it grows upward. It grows fast and easily, making it suitable for beginner aquascapers wanting a green carpet without much difficulty.

Appearance

Thin creeping stems bear small leaves about 1–1.5 cm across, divided into three to five lobes, bright green. The nodes root easily. The 'Japan' form is especially compact and dense. Carpet height is 2–5 cm under bright light, taller under weak light.

Care

It needs medium to strong light for a dense carpet, 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5. CO2 is recommended for compactness. It roots in nutrient-rich substrate. Under weak light it grows upward rather than creeping.

Fertilizing

It feeds through roots and leaves. For a dense carpet, nutrient-rich substrate, CO2, and regular fertilisation matter. Moderate demand for macro- and micronutrients.

Breeding

It propagates by creeping stems: any fragment with a node roots. For a carpet the plant is pressed to the substrate and left to spread.

Fun facts

The 'Japan' form is one of the most popular carpeting plants in aquascaping thanks to its ease and speed of growth. The clover-like leaves make the carpet recognisable. Under insufficient light the plant 'stands up' vertically, losing the carpet look.