Hydrocotyle tripartita (Hydrocotyle tripartita) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Hydrocotyle sp. 'Japan'
Family
Araliaceae (ivy family; formerly placed in Apiaceae)
Origin
New Zealand and eastern Australia (Queensland, NSW, Victoria); Tropica's form from South-East Asia
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
10 cm
Temperature
18–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
Medium to strong light; CO2 not essential

Care

A small creeping pennywort with bright green, three-lobed leaves on upright stems. Wikipedia gives its native range as New Zealand and eastern Australia; Tropica's form, known on forums as Hydrocotyle sp. 'Japan', comes from South-East Asia. It grows fast into a compact carpet 5–10 cm tall in the foreground or midground. Pressing the carpet down by hand during maintenance keeps it compact, and strong light gives the tightest growth. Tropica rates it as medium difficulty: medium light and low CO2 needs. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocotyletripartita); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Runners root at each node; cut and replant rooted pieces to start new patches.

Compatibility and tank mates

Fine with shrimp and community fish; digging fish and goldfish can tear up the carpet.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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