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Pennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata

Other plants called Pennywort:

Phonetic Spelling
hi-droh-KOT-ol um-bell-AY-tuh
Description

Hydrocotyle umbellata, or Dollarweed, is a native, herbaceous, perennial weed found in moist, open areas, along roadside ditches, and swamps. It is an aquatic plant and a member of the carrot family. Dollarweed is typically used as a groundcover that can grow on land and in the water. It blooms from late spring to fall with attractive, shiny, round green leaves the size of silver dollars that form creeping, dense mats in poorly drained to wet soil in the sun. It spreads by long, creeping roots, and its seeds are eaten by waterfowl. 

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides and Hydrocotyle umbellata and sometimes mistaken for each other. The main difference is that Hydrocotyle umbellata leaves are circular. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides leaves are also round, but they are notched (or cut) almost to the center.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No known disease or insect problems. While not classified as poisonous, iIngesting the leaves may cause nausea. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility and children are most vulnerable. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant’s different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#high maintenance#fast growing#NC native#native water plant#flowers late spring#perennial weeds#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#high maintenance#fast growing#NC native#native water plant#flowers late spring#perennial weeds#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hydrocotyle
    Species:
    umbellata
    Family:
    Araliaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Ground cover.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Leaf Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North and South America
    Distribution:
    Eastern, Central, and Western United States. Central America.
    Wildlife Value:
    Seeds eaten by waterfowl. Submerged plants provide habitat for micro and macro invertebrates.
    Edibility:
    Leaves cause nausea. Keep away from children.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Dense
    Horizontal
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Rounded, flat capsule.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small flowers on compact umbel. Blooms throughout the year.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Orbicular
    Peltate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Round peltate, succulent dark green leaves 1/2 to 2 inches long that grow from creeping stems. Long leaf stalks attach at the leaf centers, umbrella-like.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Creepeing stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Foot Traffic
    Humidity
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Weedy