Variegated Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala 'Variegated') - Potted

Variegated Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala 'Variegated') is the marbled form of the classic Brazilian Pennywort, carrying round, coin-shaped leaves splashed with cream and pale green on trailing stems. It is a fast, forgiving stem plant that needs no CO2 and no special substrate, and the creamy leaves give a planted tank instant contrast against all the usual greens. Sold as a potted live plant. Browse the rest of our freshwater aquarium plants to fill out the aquascape.

Care Guide

Pennywort is one of the easiest stem plants in the hobby. It pulls most of its nutrients straight from the water column, so a general liquid fertilizer like Seachem Flourish matters more than what is under the gravel. Plant the stems in the substrate, tuck them into hardscape, or simply let them float at the surface. All three work, and floating stems usually grow the fastest.

The one thing the variegated form asks for is light. Cream tissue holds less chlorophyll than green tissue, so under dim lighting the plant will grow slower and new leaves tend to come in solid green. Medium to bright light keeps the marbling crisp. A planted-spectrum fixture such as the Fluval Plant 4.0 LED is more than enough.

Expect fast growth once it settles in, often several inches a week. Trim the tops every couple of weeks to keep it bushy, and replant the cuttings anywhere you want more of it. Each node roots readily, so one pot turns into a thicket in a season. Your plant arrives in a net pot with rock wool around the base. Peel the pot away, tease the rock wool out of the roots, and separate the stems before planting.

Specifications

Why Hobbyists Love It

• Cream and green marbling breaks up a wall of solid green plants
• Grows fast enough to soak up excess nutrients and help starve out algae
• Plant it, tie it to hardscape, or float it, all three work
• No CO2 and no specialty substrate required
• Every trimmed stem roots, so one pot fills a tank over time
• Safe with shrimp, snails, bettas, and community fish

Recommended Pairings

• Seachem Flourish for the water-column trace elements this plant feeds on
• Seachem Flourish Tabs if you plant the stems rather than float them
• Fluval Plant & Shrimp Stratum for an easy planted-tank substrate
• Hydrocotyle 'Japan' and Moneywort for a matching low-fuss stem-plant grouping
• Amano Shrimp to graze algae off the leaves and stems
• More live aquarium plants to round out the layout

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need CO2 to grow this?
No. Pennywort grows well in a low-tech tank on liquid fertilizer alone. CO2 speeds it up, but it is not required.

My new leaves are coming in solid green. What happened?
That is the plant reverting under low light. Variegated tissue has less chlorophyll, so the plant favors green growth when it is short on light. Raise the intensity or move it closer to the surface and the marbling returns.

Can I float it instead of planting it?
Yes. Floating stems grow the fastest and give shrimp and fry cover. Many hobbyists run it both ways in the same tank.

How big does it get?
Leaves reach about three quarters to one and a half inches across, and stems will keep growing to the surface and beyond. Trim it every week or two to keep it in bounds.

Is it safe with shrimp and bettas?
Yes. It is a favorite in shrimp tanks and betta tanks, since the leaves and stems give plenty of cover and grazing surface.

How do I get my plants?
These are in-store pickup only. We hold your order and pull it fresh when you arrive.