PlantFun
Plant Needs
Characteristics
- Leaves: Peltate, circular, 1 to 4 cm in diameter, with shallowly lobed or crenate margins, attached to the petiole exactly at the center like a miniature lily pad;
- Flowers: Inflorescence a simple or proliferous umbel, flowers are tiny, inconspicuous, and greenish-white;
- Stems: Creeping rhizomes that root readily at the nodes, forming dense, spreading mats in mud or shallow water.
Care Guide
Keep soil constantly saturated or submerge roots entirely in water.
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength if grown outside of an aquarium.. If grown in an aquarium with fish, the fish waste usually provides sufficient nutrients.
Aquarium Water Fertilizer：Use water from routine aquarium changes to water the plant; it provides gentle, natural nitrogen without the risk of chemical burn. Avoid if the water has been treated with fish medications.- Trim back overgrown or yellowing leaves at the base of the petiole to maintain a tidy appearance;
- Thin out dense mats periodically to ensure adequate light reaches the lower stems and prevents rot;
- Pinch off flower stalks if strictly foliage growth is preferred.
Toxicity
Warning: this plant may be toxic.
Pets: Non-toxic per ASPCA guidelines; safe for households with felines.
Humans: Generally considered non-toxic, though foraging from contaminated water sources poses risks of waterborne pathogens.
Garden Uses & Culture
Culture: In Western water gardening and aquascaping, pennyworts are highly valued for their geometric, lily-pad-like appearance, often used to soften the hard edges of ponds and indoor water features.
Usage: Widely used in aquariums, paludariums, terrariums, water gardens, and as a marginal pond plant for edge coverage.