Description

Brazilian pennywort has round, coin-like leaves on long, flexible stems that grow in a zigzag. It can be planted at the back and allowed to reach the surface and spread its leaves floating, or left loose as a floater. It is one of the easiest and fastest plants: it grows in low light, without CO2 and in almost any water. It should not be confused with its relative Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, which is on the Spanish list of invasive species; leucocephala is not.
Scientific name
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Position
Middle or Rear
Difficulty
Easy
Natural grow
High
Max height
50 cm

🌊 Water parameters

pH
6 - 7.5
GH
2 - 15
Temperature
20 - 28 °C
Current
Low or moderate

Requirements

Light requirements
Low
Light spectrum requirements
6000 - 8000 (Kelvin)
Require CO2
no
Soil requirements
Inert or nutritious sustrate

Habitats

Sources

  • GBIF
    GBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Hydrocotyle leucocephala.

Taxonomy verified.

Tropica has no profile for this species, so the aquarium care values (light, substrate, CO2 and water ranges) have no citable source. GBIF supports the taxonomy and distribution.