Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris)

pennywort

Features and Characteristics

Hydrocotyle vulgaris, commonly called pennywort, is a ground cover for moist to wet areas. Stems clad with round, peltate, short-stalked leaves (3/4” to 5” diameter) with scalloped edges float in very shallow water or creep along the ground, rooting at the nodes as they go. Purplish-green flowers are inconspicuous, appearing in 2-5 flowered umbels among the leaves from June through September. Grows 2-6” tall but spreads indefinitely. Many of the leaves are penny-size, hence the common name.

Genus name comes from the Greek words hydor meaning water and kotyle meaning a small cup.

Specific epithet means common.

Care and Maintenance

Easily grown in humusy, consistently moist soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates full shade. May be grown as a marginal aquatic plant in mud at the side of a pond or water garden or in up to 2” of standing water. Grow in containers in water gardens. Also best to use containers in boggy areas or around pools and ponds in order to maintain control and to avoid any unwanted invasive spread.

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) Requirements

Hardiness zone	6 - 10
Sun light	Full sun to part shade
Water	Medium to wet
Maintenance	Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses

Ground cover for pond or water garden margins. Bog gardens.

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) Details

Common name	pennywort
Botanical name	Hydrocotyle vulgaris
Plant type	Herbaceous perennial
Family	Araliaceae
Hardiness zone	6 - 10
Water	Medium to wet
Maintenance	Low
Flower color	Purplish-green
Flowering period	June - September
Height	0.25 to 0.50 feet
Width	1 - 20 ft.