Hydrocotyle leucocephala

     Height: 10 - 20 cm

     Width: 5 - 15 cm

     Temperature: 20°C -27°C (68°F -82°F) 

     Growth Rate: Fast

     Placement: Mid to Background

     Light: Low to high lighting

     Also called Pennywort, this is one of my favorite aquarium plants, it grows extremely fast. This is often confused with Cardamine lyrata, but the leaves of Cardamine are much smaller and more delicate than pennywort.

     It needs bright light, but it grows just fine in a low-light tank. Under every circular leaf, there is a tiny root system. Overall it is an easy plant to take care, fast grower and adapts easily. It does not need to be rooted, but can be used as a floating plant which provides a hiding-place for young fish. 

     Planted as a stem plant in the substrate, the shoots will have already reached the water surface within a few days, where they will continue to grow floating, will branch out strongly and develop a dense blanket of floating plants. To prevent other plants from loosing light, be sure to prune pennywort regularly.
     This plant, believe it or not, is used to make asiatic salads or drinks. If you smell it, you'll notice that it has a very nice herby smell. That's why, herbivore fish like molly, will be all over this plant.