Overview
Hydrocotyle is a matforming, submerged, floating aquatic in the genus Hydrocotyle, part of the Araliaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Hydrocotyle grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include bog gardens and pond margins.
About
Hydrocotyle, commonly known as pennywort or water navelwort, is a genus of aquatic or semi-aquatic herbaceous perennials in the Araliaceae family. These plants form sprawling mats with elongated, creeping stems and clusters of upright flower spikes that range in colour from pale green to pink. They thrive in poorly-drained soils such as chalk, clay, loam, or sand, and prefer full sun to partial shade in east, south, or west-facing aspects. Suitable for bog gardens and pond margins, Hydrocotyle is hardy to UK zone H4 and is best propagated by division using aquatic compost.
About the genus
Hydrocotyle, also called floating pennywort, water pennywort, dollar weed, marsh penny, thick-leaved pennywort and white rot, is a genus of prostrate, perennial aquatic or semi-aquatic plants formerly classified in the family Apiaceae, now in the family Araliaceae.
Wikipedia contributors, "Hydrocotyle", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Hydrocotyle
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Hydrocotyle
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Poorly-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Hydrocotyle size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Aquatic, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Matforming, Submerged, Floating
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Suggested uses
- Bog gardens, Pond margins
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Hydrocotyle
- Propagation
- Division
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to mint rust
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Hydrocotyle?
Hydrocotyle prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Hydrocotyle need?
Hydrocotyle is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays poorly-drained.
Is Hydrocotyle hardy in the UK?
Hydrocotyle has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Hydrocotyle?
Division.
From the Fenn Plants journal
- Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.