Hydrocotyle vulgaris - Pennywort

Family:	Umbelliferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.1
Width:	0.5
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, Greece and the Caspian Sea.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris (Pennywort) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.1m and a width of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Pennywort will flower in December to February. the seeds ripen from January to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Self

Soil Information

Pennywort will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Pennywort prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Pennywort can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Bogs, fens and marshes, usually on acid soils[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a permanently moist position in sun or light shade[200]. Plants can be very invasive, though they are fairly easy to control by pulling out the rooted stems[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Leaves - cooked. A strong carroty taste[183], they cannot be eaten in quantity[144].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing it in early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it would probably be worthwhile sowing the seed outdoors in situ in the spring. Division of rooted runners. Probably best done in spring but can be done at any time in the growing season if the plants are kept moist.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

DISCLAIMER: All information published on AussieGardening.com.au is for entertainment purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained here with other sources. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by doctors or dietary advice by dieticians. AussieGardening.com.au will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.