Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) is one of the most versatile stem plants in the catalog — a fast-growing, bright-green plant with round, distinctive scalloped leaves on long, flexible stems that can be deployed in three completely different ways depending on what the tank needs. Planted upright in the background it grows as a vertical stem plant, adding new round leaves at each node and quickly reaching the surface. Allowed to grow horizontally along the surface it trails across the top of the tank, the round leaves lying flat on the water surface and creating a floating canopy from a rooted plant. Planted then left unmanaged it does both simultaneously — the lower stem rooted, the upper portion trailing at the surface. Each mode produces a distinct visual result from the same plant. The bright, fresh green of the round leaves is warmer and more vivid than most stem plants in the catalog and provides a distinctive leaf shape — clearly circular and scalloped — that is immediately recognisable in any layout. Fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina, and snails.
Not RequiredCO₂
64–82°FTemperature
Low–HighLighting
What to Expect
Growth, Form & Versatility
Round, scalloped leaves with a bright fresh green — the leaf form is the defining characteristic of Pennywort — clearly circular with a scalloped or lobed margin that gives each leaf a lily-pad-like appearance at the small scale of a nano tank. The colour is a warm, bright green — lighter and fresher in tone than the deep greens of Anubias or Buce, closer to the vivid greens of fast-growing stem plants — and holds consistently across a wide range of light conditions without fading.
Three distinct growth modes — choose based on tank needs — planted and trimmed regularly it grows as an upright background stem plant. Planted and left to grow unmanaged it transitions from vertical to horizontal growth when the stem reaches the surface and begins trailing across the top. Stems trimmed from a planted specimen and placed on the surface float freely and produce a trailing-stem floating canopy similar to floating plants but with longer, more substantial stems and larger leaves. All three modes are functional and intentional rather than signs of poor conditions.
Very fast growth rate — needs frequent trimming in display tanks — Pennywort grows rapidly under any light level above very low — adding new leaf nodes quickly and reaching the surface or trailing across it within weeks of planting. In display tanks where upright stem form is desired, weekly trimming is typically necessary. Cut stems can be replanted, returned to float, or discarded — each trimming is a propagation opportunity. The growth rate makes it one of the most effective nutrient-absorbing plants in the catalog.
Trailing surface mode creates a living floating canopy — when stems reach the surface and begin trailing horizontally, the round leaves lie flat and the plant creates a natural-looking surface coverage from a rooted plant — an effect that differs from floating plants in that the stem remains connected to the substrate. In shrimp tanks the trailing surface mode provides the same dappled light and shade benefit as floating plants while roots remain anchored and the plant resists being pushed around by flow.
Shrimp and shrimplets actively use stems and leaves — the round leaf faces and the node junctions where leaves meet stems accumulate biofilm that shrimp graze continuously. In the trailing surface mode the stems create a midwater structure that shrimplets navigate through and shelter within — a functional benefit similar to floating plant roots but with more substantial physical cover from the actual stem-and-leaf architecture.
How to Set It Up
Getting Started
1Choose your growth mode and plant accordingly — for upright stem mode, strip the lower 3–4cm of leaves and plant the bare stem 2cm into substrate in the midground or background. For trailing mode, plant as above but allow to grow without trimming once it reaches the surface. For floating canopy mode, simply lay trimmed stem sections on the surface — they float immediately and begin growing within days.
2Trim regularly for upright form in display tanks — in any tank where the upright stem appearance is the goal, check weekly and trim individual stems before they reach the surface or begin trailing. Cut just above a leaf node to encourage branching at the trim point. Return cut stems to the planting, float them, or add to a breeding setup.
3Allow trailing in shrimp and breeding tanks for maximum cover — in tanks where plant appearance is secondary to function, allow Pennywort to trail freely across the surface and down into the water column. The combined canopy and midwater structure it produces in this mode provides the most shelter volume of any planted stem plant in the catalog.
4Fertilise consistently — fast growth requires consistent nutrition — liquid fertiliser dosed two to three times weekly supports the rapid growth rate and maintains the bright, vivid green leaf colour that makes Pennywort visually distinctive. Without regular fertilisation fast-growing stems deplete water-column nutrients quickly and new leaves become pale or smaller than established growth.
💡 Bonus Tip
Pennywort is the fastest way to add visual complexity to a new tank before slower-growing plants have established — a few stems planted at setup reach the surface and begin trailing within two to three weeks, providing immediate layout structure, floating-style cover, and active nutrient uptake during the period when stem plants are rooting and rhizome plants are recovering from melt. Once slower species catch up and the layout fills in, Pennywort can be trimmed back, redirected to float, or removed entirely without disturbing anything else.
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Browse more aquatic plantsPair Pennywort with Water Sprite, Guppy Grass, or floating plants for a complete shrimp and breeding setup. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.
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