Hydrocotyle Verticilliata

Hydrocotyle verticillata

Whorled Pennywort – Unique Lily-Pad Style Foreground Plant

Hydrocotyle verticillata, often called Whorled Pennywort, is a distinctive aquatic plant known for its umbrella- or lily-pad-shaped leaves held atop slender vertical stems. This unusual growth form creates a playful, miniature “pond lily” effect in aquariums, making it a standout choice for foreground or open midground layouts. When given sufficient light and nutrients, it forms creeping runners that slowly spread across the substrate.

🌱 Key Features

• Unique umbrella-shaped leaves on thin stalks

• Creates a miniature lily-pad appearance underwater

• Creeping growth via runners when established

• Excellent visual contrast to carpeting plants

• Ideal for open, negative-space aquascapes

⚙️ Optimal Aquarium Parameters

Difficulty: Medium
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Placement: Foreground to Midground

🌡️ Water Parameters

• Temperature: 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)

• pH: 5.5–7.5

• GH: 2–8 dGH

• KH: 0–4 dKH

• TDS: ~80–180 ppm

💡 Lighting

• Requirement: Medium to High

• Strong lighting promotes compact growth and horizontal spreading

• Low light causes taller stems and sparse spacing

💨 CO₂

• Recommended

• CO₂ greatly improves growth speed, leaf size, and runner formation

🌿 Nutrients

• Feeds from both substrate and water column

• Nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs strongly recommended

• Consistent micronutrients (especially iron) improve leaf color and vigor

✂️ Care & Maintenance

• Trim taller stems to encourage horizontal spreading

• Avoid shading from faster-growing plants

• Slow initial growth—patience is key during establishment