Whorled Pennywort
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(Hydrocotyle verticillata)
Whorled Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata)
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natomik
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
natomik
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: natomik | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: natomik | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2023-01-25T03:48:10-08:00 |
Summary
Hydrocotyle verticillata, commonly known as whorled pennywort, whorled marshpennywort, or shield pennywort, is a perennial herb native to wetlands, marshes, and along the edges of ponds and streams in South, Central and North America, as well as the West Indies and Africa. It typically forms dense mats of foliage and can spread across the water’s surface. This plant has a creeping growth habit with leaves that are peltate, meaning the leaf stalk attaches to the center of the leaf, and are circular with scalloped edges. The small, greenish-white flowers appear in clusters from spring to fall and are not particularly showy.
Whorled pennywort is valued for its use in water gardens, as a ground cover in wet areas, and for its ability to stabilize soil and filter water. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers consistently moist to wet soil conditions. While it can be a beneficial plant in its native habitat, gardeners should use it responsibly and manage its spread to prevent unintended naturalization.CC BY-SA 4.0
Whorled pennywort is valued for its use in water gardens, as a ground cover in wet areas, and for its ability to stabilize soil and filter water. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers consistently moist to wet soil conditions. While it can be a beneficial plant in its native habitat, gardeners should use it responsibly and manage its spread to prevent unintended naturalization.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-1 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate, Rapid
- Flower Color: Green, White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Low Maintenance, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
native to wetlands, marshes, and along the edges of ponds and streams in South, Central and North America, as well as the West Indies and Africa
Other Names
Common Names: Whorled Pennywort, Marsh Pennywort, Herbe-Mare (Lesser Antilles), Papitas Fritas (Dominican Republic), Whorled Marshpennywort, Whorled Pennyroyal, Shield Pennywort, Whorled Water-Pennywort
Scientific Names: Hydrocotyle verticillata, Centella verticillata, Hydrocotyle ambigua, Hydrocotyle communis, Hydrocotyle cuneata, Hydrocotyle featherstoniana, Hydrocotyle interrupta, Hydrocotyle interrupta var. tuberosa, Hydrocotyle natans
GBIF Accepted Name: Hydrocotyle verticillata