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Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)

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Amount: Bunch

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$7.00

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Description
Aquatic Plants

Pennywort

Round, bright green scalloped leaves on long trailing stems — a fast-growing stem plant that works planted upright, allowed to trail along the surface, or used as a compact floating canopy.

Round Scalloped Leaves Plant, Trail or Float Very Fast Growing Bright Fresh Green No CO₂ Required Beginner Friendly

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.

🌿
Browse more aquatic plants

Pair 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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Aquatic plants

Policies & Disclaimers

Choosing your portions, using the plant promotion, and knowing what to expect when your plants arrive.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free: add all three

Choose three eligible plant items and add all three to your cart, including the plant you want free. The discount applies automatically at checkout; no code is needed. Adding only two items does not add a third plant for you.

Mix and match eligible varieties or choose multiple quantities of the same eligible plant. The least expensive eligible item is free. For example, with eligible items priced at $5, $8 and $10, the $5 item is discounted and the plant subtotal is $18 before shipping and tax.

The offer repeats for complete qualifying groups: three eligible items give one free, six give two free, and nine give three free. The current offer has no per-order use limit. Items must be included in the promotion; Plant Weights and other non-plant accessories do not qualify.

An item means the sale unit in your cart. One bunch, cup, portion or multipack counts as one item when purchased at quantity one, not one item for every stem, leaf or bulb inside it. Check the listing and selected option for what each unit contains.

Check the discount and quantities in your order summary before paying. Other promotions can affect the final discount; multiple product discounts do not stack on the same item. This is an online checkout offer, not an automatic in-store POS discount.

Plant Promotion Details

Portions, sizes & what you receive

Read this plant’s description and selected option for its sale format, portion size and any stated stem or plant count. A bunch, loose portion, rooted plant, bulb, cup and mounted plant are different products; there is no single size or count that applies to every plant we sell.

A mature height or spread describes potential growth in an aquarium, not the size shipped. Use the advertised purchase portion to plan your order. A full carpet, dense moss-covered surface or established group in a photograph may require several portions and time to grow.

Do not assume that a pot, planting weight, rock, wood, substrate or other display accessory is included unless the listing explicitly says it is. If the received portion appears different from the selected listing, photograph it with its packaging and contact us promptly.

Photos, color & natural variation

Photos illustrate the named plant or variety and its appearance. Living plants vary in leaf size, shape, root development, branching and fullness; a photo of an established specimen is not a measurement of each portion shipped. The product description and selected option remain the reference for your purchase.

Aquarium lighting, camera settings and the growing environment affect perceived color. Red or pink varieties can look different under different lighting and growing conditions. Do not use a photograph alone to select a plant’s care requirements or expect immediate mature coloration.

Above-water growth & the transition underwater

Some aquarium plants can grow with their leaves above water as well as submerged. These growth forms can have different leaf shapes and appearances. New underwater growth may look different from older leaves as the plant adjusts. This explanation does not mean every plant is supplied in the same growth form; follow any specific information in the listing.

Leaf loss or softening after a change of environment is often called melt. Look at the plant as a whole and its growing points rather than judging only one older leaf. Do not assume that a damaged plant is simply transitioning or wait for new growth before reporting an arrival problem.

This is background care information, not a new exclusion from the Live Arrival Guarantee. Arrival damage is assessed under the existing policy.

Planting: match the method to the plant

For stem plants, separate the stems and plant with room between them. For rosette plants, position the roots in the substrate without burying the crown. Remove transport bindings and growing material carefully where appropriate.

For Anubias and Java fern, keep the rhizome exposed rather than burying it. Moss can be divided into smaller portions and attached to suitable hardscape. Floating plants belong at the surface. Bulbs and tubers need species-specific planting depth; do not assume every type should be fully buried.

Keep plants damp while working. Follow the individual listing for placement and care, especially when a plant has unusual requirements. These are planting tips, not additional conditions for a claim.

Growth, tank conditions & choosing companions

Plan for the plant’s mature size, available light and the space it will occupy. A background stem plant, slow-growing rhizome plant and floating plant serve different roles; a purchase portion does not instantly create a finished aquascape.

Use the listing’s guidance on light, nutrients and carbon dioxide rather than assuming every plant needs the same setup. Growth rate and final appearance depend on aquarium conditions and maintenance. More light alone is not a substitute for a balanced setup.

Consider animals that dig, uproot or eat plants before choosing placement. Floating growth can shade plants below it, and fast-growing plants may need thinning. Observe new growth and make gradual, species-appropriate adjustments.

Hitchhikers & introducing plants

Our existing policy does not guarantee pest-free arrival. Plants can carry tiny organisms or eggs, including snail eggs, despite inspection. Inspect new plants before introduction, and consider separate observation or quarantine to protect an established aquarium.

Do not assume a plant is sterile, pesticide-free or safe for a particular treatment unless the listing explicitly provides that information. Sensitive leaves, mosses and roots can respond differently to dips. Research the exact plant and any treatment before using it; do not apply an animal medication or a strong dip by default.

Arrival problems: document and contact us promptly

For damaged or dead plants, email support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time. Use the email address on the order and include all arrival concerns in your first message.

Send clear photographs of the affected plants and their packaging, with the shipping label or invoice visible for identification. Photograph packaging damage before unpacking or discarding materials, and consult the full guarantee’s documentation instructions. Keep the original photos.

The current guarantee covers aquatic plants but excludes promotional or free items. That existing exclusion also matters when ordering a free promotional plant. Claims and available resolutions are assessed under the full policy; this tab does not expand or reduce coverage.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping your plants

Plants ship Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday shipping available for 2-day or overnight services. Orders remain subject to stock, fulfillment timing and weather holds under our shipping policy. A shipping-service estimate is not a guaranteed dispatch date.

Plan to receive the package promptly and inspect it on arrival. Review the full shipping information for weather precautions, transit expectations and delivery issues. If your cart also contains live animals, review the shipping requirements for those animals as well.

Shipping Information

Returns & order questions

Check the plant name, portion, quantity and selected option before completing checkout. Contact us before sending anything back; returns require prior written authorization under our existing policy. The full return policy explains the applicable conditions.

Return Policy

This tab explains the existing offer and policies alongside plant-care guidance. Care tips do not create new claim requirements or exclusions. Refer to the linked policies for complete terms.

    Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)
    $7.00
    $7.00
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