Water Pennywort Plant Care

Hydrocotyle sulcata C.J.Webb & P.N.Johnson

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Hydrocotyle sulcata, also known as pennywort, is a species of plant.

Light

Partial to full shade

At a glance

How do you care for Water Pennywort?

Water Pennywort grows best in partial to full shade.

What Is the Water Pennywort?

Water Pennywort (Hydrocotyle sulcata) belongs to the Araliaceae family within the Hydrocotyle genus. Water Pennywort is also known as Pennywort.

Water Pennywort displays a creeping ground cover growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Water Pennywort produces small, inconspicuous flowers.

What Light Does the Water Pennywort Need?

Water Pennywort thrives in partial to full shade. Avoid placing Water Pennywort in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Light Requirement

Partial to full shade

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Water Pennywort?

Rich, moist soil with good drainage. Good drainage is essential for Water Pennywort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Do You Repot a Water Pennywort?

Repot annually in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

How Do You Propagate a Water Pennywort?

Water Pennywort can be propagated through division, seeds, cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to musk marsh pennywort plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Water Pennywort Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Water Pennywort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Water Pennywort?

Water Pennywort is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Keep exploring plants

Water Pennywort is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Hydrocotyle genus — compare its care with other Hydrocotyle species on PlantoScan.

Hydrocotyle is part of the Araliaceae plant family — browse all Araliaceae genera and species.

Water Pennywort copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.

More Hydrocotyle Species

Other Hydrocotyle species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Hydrocotyle sulcata C.J.Webb & P.N.Johnson, family Araliaceae (first published in New Zealand J. Bot. 20: 165 (1982)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Water Pennywort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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