Hydrocotyle leucocephala — Brazilian Pennywort — is one of the most versatile stem plants in the hobby. Native to Central and South America, it grows in a wide range of aquatic habitats from Mexico to Argentina. The round, scalloped leaves are unlike most stem plants, and its willingness to grow planted, floating, or somewhere in between makes it useful in almost any tank setup.
Three ways to use it
Planted in the background: Push stem bases into substrate against the back glass. Pennywort reaches 10–40 cm depending on trimming, creating a lightweight background with an informal, natural look. Seachem Flourish Tabs near the roots keep growth vigorous and prevent lower leaf loss.
Floating at the surface: Allow trimmed stems to float and they’ll grow horizontally across the surface, producing a canopy of round leaves with dangling white roots below. Great betta cover and excellent nitrate removal. In floating mode, Seachem Flourish liquid is the primary fertilizer since there’s no substrate access.
Trailing in the midground: Drape stems over rocks or wood and they’ll follow the contour, creating an informal trailing effect that connects different areas of the hardscape.
Color
Uniformly bright green. Pennywort doesn’t produce red or bronze pigments — its visual appeal is the distinctive leaf shape and the way it fills space with a light, airy texture rather than dense mass.
Care
Pennywort is one of the easier stem plants to maintain. It grows steadily without CO2, tolerates a wide range of water parameters, and responds well to trimming. Trim at any node, replant or float the tops, and the original stem will branch. Regular trimming prevents the lower portions from going bare.
How to plant
Pennywort gives you two options depending on how you want to use it.
Planted in substrate: Strip the lower leaves and push stems 3–4 cm into the gravel or sand with tweezers, positioning them toward the back glass. Space stems 3–4 cm apart. Push a Seachem Flourish Tab near the roots to keep growth vigorous and prevent lower-leaf loss. Stems root down and grow upward, reaching 20–40 cm depending on trimming.
Floating: Simply place trimmed stem sections on the water surface — Pennywort naturally shifts to floating growth, with stems lying horizontal and the round leaves facing upward. It works as excellent surface cover for bettas. In floating mode, weekly Seachem Flourish is the primary fertilizer since there’s no substrate access. You can run both methods in the same tank simultaneously.
