Indian Pennywort Centella asiatica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sen-TEL-uh aye-ze-AH-tic-ka
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Centella is a genus of about 50 species of flowering, evergreen, herbaceous perennials or small shrubs in the Apiaceae (carrot) family native to the southeastern and southwestern United States. These plants generally have a sprawling habit, solitary or small groups of leaves, and small numbers of greenish white or purple flowers. Most of the Centella species are used as houseplants or interiorscape, or as a vine in landscapes and flower gardens.
False pennywort is a rhizomatous perennial plant that grows low to the ground and can spread quickly into a dense ground cover.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can grow aggressively and be weedy.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Centella
- Species:
- asiatica
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern United States, Central America, Caucasus, Tropical
- Distribution:
- Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern South America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit laterally compressed with the mericarps narrowed to the very narrow, flat commissure; primary ribs narrow but prominent, secondary ribs usually also obvious.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Solitary, very large, funnel-shaped flowers with 5 short lobes; white, pink, or yellow blossoms from May to October; fragrant at night.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves solitary or in groups of several together. Simple, linear and terete to broadly reniform leaves are alternate, simple, and smooth margined
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The green/reddish green, slender stems are creeping stolons.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Slope/Bank
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Problems:
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Headache, incoordination, excitability, stomach pain, lowered temperature, dilated pupils, paralysis, vomiting, diarrhea, shock, respiratory depression; may be fatal.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids solanine, solanidine and others.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
