Brazilian Pennywort In An Aquascape - Hakkai Aquascape Gallery - San Diego, CA
Quick answer: Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) is one of the easiest aquarium plants to keep — it adapts to almost any placement in the tank, tolerates a wide swing in water parameters, and grows just as readily emersed, climbing out of the water toward a light source.
Overview
Pennywort is a super versatile plant that's not only robust but can be used in a number of different ways for aquascapers of all levels. Whether it's placed as a midground or background plant, left to float freely, or draped over hardscape, it grows well and adapts to varying conditions — which is exactly why it shows up in biotope, nature, and jungle-style aquascapes alike.
Where It Thrives: Placement Options
For the biotope aquascape here at Hakkai Aquascape Gallery, we attached it right at the surface and draped it over one of the manzanita branches. Placed this way, it tends to grow toward the light source and will eventually creep its way throughout the branch — often climbing quite a distance outside the tank entirely, since pennywort adapts well to emersed (partially out-of-water) conditions. Left unanchored, it also does well simply floating, with roots trailing down to provide cover for fry and shrimp.
Basic Care
Pennywort isn't particular about water chemistry — it handles a wide pH and hardness range and a broad temperature window typical of most tropical community tanks. Moderate to high light and a nutrient-rich column (liquid fertilizer or a CO₂-injected setup) push faster, denser growth, but it gets by under low light too, just more slowly and leggier. Propagation is as simple as cutting a stem below a node and replanting or re-floating the cutting — new roots form within days.
Shop Plants & Supplies
See more low-maintenance aquascaping plants in our Aquatic Plants collection, and keep fast growers like pennywort well-fed with UNS Plant Food All-In-One Aquatic Plant Fertilizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brazilian Pennywort easy for beginners?
Yes — it's one of the more forgiving plants in the hobby. It tolerates a wide range of water parameters and keeps growing under low to moderate light, which makes it very hard to kill by accident.
Can Brazilian Pennywort grow out of the water?
Yes. It grows readily in emersed conditions, meaning stems can climb up hardscape or along a tank's rim and keep growing in open air, as long as the base stays rooted or anchored near the waterline.
Does Brazilian Pennywort need to be planted, or can it float?
Either works. It can be tied or weighted down as a midground or background plant, or left completely unanchored to float at the surface, where its trailing roots also provide cover for fry and shrimp.
How do you propagate Brazilian Pennywort?
Cut a stem section below a leaf node and either replant it in substrate or let it float — new roots typically form within days, and the cutting grows on as an independent plant.
Why is Brazilian Pennywort popular in biotope and nature aquascapes?
Its versatility: the same plant can be the midground filler, a background screen, a floating surface plant, or an emersed accent climbing out of the tank, which lets aquascapers use one species to do several jobs in a single layout.
About the author: Roger Ma is the owner of Hakkai Aquascape Design Gallery and Pet Zone Tropical Fish in San Diego, with over a decade of experience building and maintaining nature aquariums and aquascaping retail.
