Hydrocotyle vulgaris

RHS Plant Profile
marsh pennywort

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Other common names

flowkwort, penny rot, sheep's bane, white rot, ceiniog y gors

Aquatic Herbaceous Perennial
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A creeping, moisture-loving, low-growing perennial forming a mat of round, shallow-toothed leaves, 1-5cm wide, held erect on short stems attached to the leaf centres. Tiny, inconspicuous flower clusters appear in late spring and summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Araliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming, Submerged, Floating
Genus
A genus of aquatic or semi-aquatic horizontal plants which can be found in ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes and sometimes coastal areas. They form mats of long, creeping stems and clusters of pale green to pink flowers on upright spikes
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun or partial shade in moisture-retentive soils in bog gardens or at pond margins or grow shallowly submerged in water up to 5cm deep. See pond plants and bog gardens for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Low Maintenance
  • Ground cover

Pruning

Cut back regularly to control spread

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to mint rust