Hydrocotyle verticillata
Alternate Names:
Hydrocotyle verticillata is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.
Care At-A-Glance
Difficulty: 2/5
Type: Crawling horizontal stem plant Position: Carpet, foreground, midground, floating or tied to hardscape. Can also be grown semi-emersed
Size: Leaves grow on petioles 3-10cm depending on lighting and conditions
Position and Usage: Coming Soon
CO2 Requirements: Not required but increases the growth rate dramatically
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast depending on conditions Water Chemistry: Prefers slightly acidic water - hardness unimportant Temperature: 10C - 25C - does well in unusually cold water
Lighting: 3/5 – 5/5
Water Conditions: Coming Soon
Propagation/Reproduction: Separating the crawling "caulome" into sections with at least two nodes Special requirements: Light, loamy substrate, good lighting Emersed growth: Grows fast and beautiful emersed in terrariums or even pots with very wet soil. Will produce numerous caulomes that criss-cross the media surface and tolerates quite cold temperatures. Makes for a fantastic plant in a terrarium, vivarium or even just a glass jar on the windowsill in temperate climates
Detailed Information
Overview
Hydrocotyle verticillata (Crawling Pennywort, Whorled Pennywort, Whorled Marsh Pennywort, Shield Pennywort) A beautiful and extremely versatile plant that hails from temperate habitats in both South and North America.
Hydrocotyle verticillata is a fantastic low growing plant that grows along the bottom of your aquarium with its creeping "caulome", occasionally sending out round leaves on short, vertical petioles that look like underwater Lily pads. These leaves, about an inch in diameter provide a convenient and very cute perch for bottom dwelling fish, shrimp, Corydoras, Otocinclus, Gouramis and Bettas.
References and Further Reading