Want a carpet that grows fast and stands up to shrimp and fish? Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, or Dwarf Pennywort, creeps outward with thick, clover-shaped leaves on wiry runners. Set beside Hydrocotyle tripartita 'Japan', the foliage is sturdier and the spread quicker — which is why it holds up in tanks where finer carpets get torn apart.
What You’ll Receive
Choose the format that suits your aquascaping needs:
- Fresh-Cut Plants: Loose, freshly cut portion without root, ready to be planted or attached
- Bunched Plants: Fresh-cut stems without root bundled with foam and plant weight for easy anchoring
- Potted Plants: Fresh-cut stems without root potted in rockwool and net pot for stable placement and easy handling
Plant Profile
- Common name — Dwarf Pennywort
- Scientific name — Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
- Placement — Foreground, carpeting or trailing over hardscape
- Mature height — 1–3 in
- Growth rate — Fast
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Medium to high. Light is what keeps it flat instead of climbing
- CO₂ — Recommended
- Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Nutrient substrate or root tabs recommended
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Runners — cut and replant sections
Grower’s Notes
- Light decides carpet or climber. Under strong light it hugs the substrate. Under weaker light the runners stretch upward and it stops being a carpet — the single most common complaint about this plant, and it's a lighting problem, not a plant problem.
- It grows fast enough to become a chore. Plan on trimming runners back every few weeks or it will cross into neighboring plants.
- Thick leaves are the practical advantage over finer carpets — shrimp graze them, community fish leave them alone, and they don't shred.
- Pin fresh cuttings down with plant weights or tweezers until roots grab; loose sections float free.
- Trimmings replant directly. Every cutting with a node will root, so one portion becomes a carpet in a couple of months.
Notes
- As live plants, appearance may vary slightly. Fresh-cut and bunched plants may not have established roots but will develop quickly under stable aquarium conditions.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Customers praised these aquatic plants for arriving "healthy and happy" with "great color, quantity and size." Reviews highlight excellent packaging and "tip top shape" on delivery. Plants show rapid growth with "loads of new growth" within days. One customer noted size was "a little smaller than expected" but still "nicely rooted."
- It already has loads of new growth. This is a fun plant to grow above the waterline.
- Plant came in better condition than Buceplants plants, Great color, quantity and size
- Nice color, leaves in great condition & firm stem tips. Almost a week in my tank and no sign of molting.
E
I got two bundles of this and both arrived healthy and happy. The picture is less than a week after I added it to my tank. It already has loads of new growth. This is a fun plant to grow above the waterline and I can't wait to see it fill in!
K
I love this plant! I love all of my plants that I received. This was my first attempt at a planted tank and I agonized over my plant decision. I was not sure about purchasing online either. I’m 100% happy with my purchase. The plants arrived in great shape. Each bunch was sealed in its own bag and the box was lined with silver insulation stuff. lol! I’m not sure what it is called exactly. You get a great little bunch of plants too. It’s hard to understand what you are going to get from the website pictures, but this plant had three little rooted bunches. Don’t hesitate to purchase from these folks! You won’t be disappointed!! Hopefully I can keep them alive, but at least I know where to go for more plants.
O
these are soooo cute. arrived healthy! the day after i planted them they started reaching for the light.
R
These are so pretty. Everything was packaged well, and so far looks amazing! As always, a great transaction!
r
Plant came in better condition than Buceplants plants, Great color, quantity and size
s
all the plants were healthy when they arrived!!
J
A little smaller than I expected but nicely rooted.
J
all of my plants arrived in tip top shape and almost all are thriving in my tank
P
Arrived quickly and in terrific shape. Nice color, leaves in great condition & firm stem tips. Almost a week in my tank and no sign of molting. Definitely a winner!
A
Honestly very impressed with how good the plants looked on arrival. No brown at all despite the trip from California all the way to the Northwest.
They looked better than plants I could have gotten locally.
I will definitely be ordering from here again.
A
So cute came in good condition
I
Plants came in good! Some roots and healthy
D
How tall do these get? (hydrocotyle-sibthorpioides)
Approx. 6-8 inches tall. In low light, it can get taller than that.
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