Species pennywort
Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) plant with green, round leaves and creeping green stems

pennywort

Hydrocotyle vulgaris

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) is a low-growing perennial plant that can be found in both wet and dry areas. Its leaves are round or kidney shaped and typically dark green, sometimes with white spots. The plants produce small white flowers in the summer and its fruit has four small wings. It is commonly used in traditional medicine, as an ornamental plant due to its attractive leaf shape, and in aquariums as a oxygenating and filtering plant. Pennywort can also be used for herbal teas and as a food item in dishes such as soup and salads.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Stem Propagation,Layering Propagation,Planting Runners,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

6 - 10

Flowers:

Purplish-green Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part sun/part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Indoors:

Yes

Care Level:

Easy

watering

Pennywort should be watered regularly while it is actively growing. Water the plant enough to keep the soil moist, but not saturated. During periods of active growth, Pennywort should be watered approximately once a week; however, during the summer, when temperatures are higher, it may need to be watered more often, even every few days, and perhaps more frequent in particularly dry summer conditions. During the winter, Pennywort should be watered less frequently, about once every 2 weeks. Be sure to check the soil before watering, to make sure the soil is dry enough to need more water.

sunlight

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) is a plant species that prefers a moderate amount of sunlight throughout the day, but can tolerate full sun for certain periods of time. It does best in bright, indirect sunlight, with at least 3 hours of direct sunlight every day. For optimum results, it is best to place the pennywort in a spot that receives direct sunlight during the morning and indirect sunlight during the afternoon.

pruning

Pennywort should be pruned in late winter or early spring, and can be pruned at any time in the growing season. Trim off any dead or damaged growth to encourage new growth. In addition, shearing back the leaves by about half their length will get new and fuller foliage growth. For full and bushy pennywort, trim back the plant to the ground every other year. The plant should be pruned back to allow for about 5-10 cm of growth beyond the plant's current size.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Pennywort typically starts flowering in late spring or early summer, usually between May and July.

Starts Flowering

Pennywort typically starts flowering in late spring or early summer, usually between May and July.

Hardiness Map