Largeleaf Pennywort: A Native Groundcover for Your Wetland Garden
If you’re looking for a native groundcover that thrives in soggy soil where other plants fear to tread, let me introduce you to largeleaf pennywort (Hydrocotyle bonariensis). This unassuming little perennial might not win any beauty contests, but it’s a workhorse in wetland gardens and a true friend to gardeners dealing with perpetually damp spots.
What Makes Largeleaf Pennywort Special
Largeleaf pennywort is a native forb – essentially a soft-stemmed perennial without woody growth – that calls the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico home. You’ll find this adaptable plant naturally growing across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. It’s particularly well-suited to the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, where it has earned its reputation as a reliable wetland plant.
Don’t let the name fool you – while the leaves are indeed larger than some of its pennywort cousins, they’re still quite modest in size. The round to kidney-shaped leaves feature attractive scalloped edges and create a carpet-like effect as the plant spreads. Small, inconspicuous white or greenish flowers appear in tiny umbrella-like clusters, though most gardeners grow this plant for its foliage rather than its blooms.
Where Largeleaf Pennywort Shines in Your Garden
This plant is your go-to solution for those challenging wet spots in your landscape. Whether you’re dealing with:
- Rain gardens that collect runoff
- Bog gardens or water features
- Low-lying areas that stay consistently moist
- Native plant restorations in wetland areas
- Naturalized landscapes near ponds or streams
Largeleaf pennywort will happily settle in and provide reliable groundcover. Its wetland status varies by region – it’s considered an obligate wetland plant in the Caribbean (meaning it almost always grows in wetlands) and a facultative wetland plant elsewhere (usually in wetlands but sometimes in regular soil).
Growing Largeleaf Pennywort Successfully
The beauty of this native lies in its simplicity. Largeleaf pennywort thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-11, making it perfect for gardeners in warmer climates.
Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade – it’s quite flexible about lighting conditions as long as its feet stay wet.
Soil needs: Consistently moist to wet soils are essential. This plant can handle everything from soggy clay to standing water, making it invaluable for problem areas where drainage is poor.
Planting tips: Spring is the ideal time to establish largeleaf pennywort. Simply plant it in your wet area and keep the soil consistently moist. Once established, it requires minimal care – nature pretty much takes over from there.
The Good, The Great, and The Heads-Up
Let’s talk benefits first. As a native plant, largeleaf pennywort supports local ecosystems and requires no fertilizers or pesticides. While it’s not a major pollinator magnet, its small flowers do attract tiny pollinators like small flies and gnats. For wildlife, it provides cover in wetland areas and contributes to the overall health of aquatic ecosystems.
Now for the friendly warning: this plant can be an enthusiastic spreader in ideal conditions. If you’re looking for something that stays put in a neat little clump, largeleaf pennywort might not be your best choice. However, if you want reliable coverage for a wet area and don’t mind a plant that knows how to make itself at home, you’ll appreciate its vigor.
Is Largeleaf Pennywort Right for Your Garden?
Choose largeleaf pennywort if you have consistently wet areas in your landscape and want a low-maintenance native groundcover. It’s particularly valuable for gardeners interested in:
- Supporting native plant communities
- Managing stormwater runoff naturally
- Creating habitat in wetland gardens
- Solving groundcover challenges in soggy soil
Skip it if you’re looking for a showstopper with dramatic flowers or if you need something for dry, well-drained areas. This plant is all about function over flash – but sometimes that’s exactly what your garden needs.
With its native credentials, wetland superpowers, and easy-care nature, largeleaf pennywort might just be the unsung hero your challenging wet spots have been waiting for.
