Brazilian Pennywort
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Also sold as Brazilian water ivy · Pennywort
Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) is a stem plant for the background and the surface, growing to about 60 cm (23.6 in) at a fast pace. It wants 64–82°F (18–28°C), low light and no CO₂, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Stem plant |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | Not neededWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 64–82°F (18–28°C) |
| Max height | 60 cm (23.6 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Placement | planted in the background and floating |
| pH | 6–8 |
Before it goes in
- Brazilian Pennywort lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- It grows without CO₂.
- It can be planted in the substrate and left floating.
- At about 60 cm (23.6 in) it belongs behind everything shorter — planted at the front it hides the rest of the scape and shades it.
- Its leaves are soft: Goldfish, Common Pleco and Molly will eat it.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes. Brazilian Pennywort does not need CO₂ at all.
How much light does it need?
Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 60 cm (23.6 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing fast, after roughly 1 weeks to root in.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are soft, so some will: Goldfish, Common Pleco and Molly.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite', Cryptocoryne wendtii and Frogbit.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Brazilian Pennywort | Umbrella Pennywort | Cabomba | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Medium | Medium |
| CO₂ | Not needed | Recommended | Recommended |
| Max height | 60 cm | 15 cm | 60 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Advanced | Medium |
More plants
Sources (2) · checked Sep 2026
- CO₂, Difficultyaquasabi.com
- Lightbuceplant.com