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Hydrocotyle tripartita, commonly known as Japanese Pennywort, is a vibrant creeping aquarium plant recognised for its small, three-lobed leaves and fresh green colour. Its distinctive clover-like foliage develops along slender stems, creating a light and delicate texture that contrasts beautifully with broad-leaved plants, mosses, stones, and driftwood.
This versatile plant can be used in the foreground, midground, or around aquarium hardscape. Under strong lighting and regular trimming, it develops into a low, dense carpet. When allowed to grow freely or under lower lighting, the stems may extend upwards and weave through neighbouring plants, creating a softer and more natural appearance.
Hydrocotyle tripartita is a relatively fast-growing and adaptable species. It responds particularly well to consistent CO₂ injection, balanced liquid fertilisation, and medium to high lighting. Its rapid growth and easy propagation make it an excellent choice for aquarists who want to create lush, detailed planting around rocks and driftwood.
Plant Type: Creeping Stem Plant
Growth Rate: Fast
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Placement: Foreground to Midground
Height: Approximately 5–15 cm
Lighting Requirements: Medium to High
CO₂ Requirements: Recommended for compact growth
Propagation: Stem cuttings, runners, and plant division
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hydrocotyle tripartita |
| Common Name | Japanese Pennywort |
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Origin | East Asia |
| Plant Type | Creeping Stem Plant |
| Placement | Foreground to Midground |
| Height | Approximately 5–15 cm |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Lighting | Medium to High |
| CO₂ | Recommended for compact growth |
| Temperature | 20–28°C |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Water Hardness | Soft to Moderately Hard |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings, runners, and plant division |
| Product Form | Tissue Culture Cup |
This ADA plant is supplied as an in-vitro tissue culture plant grown under sterile laboratory conditions. Tissue culture plants are supplied free from algae, snails, parasites, and unwanted aquatic pests, making them an excellent choice for planted aquariums and sensitive shrimp setups.
Before planting, carefully remove the plant from the tissue culture cup and thoroughly rinse away all nutrient gel using clean aquarium water. Divide the plant into numerous small portions rather than planting the entire cup as one large clump.
Using planting tweezers, insert each portion gently into the aquarium substrate. Space the portions approximately 2–3 cm apart to give the stems room to spread and develop into a more uniform carpet. Small portions generally establish more evenly and create a natural appearance more quickly than one dense clump.
Hydrocotyle tripartita can root into aquasoil, fine gravel, or sand, although a nutrient-rich substrate supports stronger establishment. The plant also absorbs nutrients readily from the water column, so regular liquid fertilisation is beneficial. CO₂ injection is strongly recommended for compact horizontal growth, dense foliage, and faster carpet formation.
Medium to high lighting encourages the stems to remain low and spread across the substrate. Under weaker lighting, the plant may develop longer internodes and grow vertically towards the light. Avoid allowing taller plants to shade it if a compact foreground carpet is desired.
Regular trimming is important because this species grows quickly under favourable conditions. Cut back taller stems to encourage branching and prevent the upper growth from shading the lower leaves. Healthy cuttings can be replanted into open areas to expand the carpet or create additional groups around hardscape.
Some tissue culture portions may experience temporary yellowing or leaf loss while adapting to submerged aquarium conditions. This is a normal acclimation response. Maintain stable water parameters and leave healthy roots and growing points in place, as new submerged leaves should develop once the plant becomes established.
Please note: Final height, density, leaf size, and growth pattern depend on lighting, CO₂ availability, nutrients, trimming frequency, and aquarium conditions. As this is a living plant, its number of stems, colour, size, and overall appearance may vary slightly from the photographs.
