Whorled Marshpennywort: A Mysterious Native Forb
Meet Hydrocotyle verticillata var. fetherstoniana, commonly known as whorled marshpennywort – a native plant that’s as elusive in our gardens as it is in botanical literature. This perennial forb represents one of those fascinating plants that reminds us just how much we still have to discover about our native flora.
What Exactly Is Whorled Marshpennywort?
Whorled marshpennywort belongs to that wonderful group of plants called forbs – essentially, it’s an herbaceous perennial without any significant woody growth above ground. Think of it as the plant kingdom’s version of keeping things simple and low-key. Unlike shrubs or trees that build up woody tissue year after year, this marshpennywort focuses its energy on softer, more flexible growth that dies back to ground level each winter, only to emerge fresh each spring.
Where Does It Call Home?
This particular variety of marshpennywort is native to the lower 48 states, with confirmed populations in New York. However, the true extent of its range remains somewhat of a botanical mystery – which honestly makes it all the more intriguing for native plant enthusiasts who love a good puzzle.
The Challenge of Growing Whorled Marshpennywort
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating): reliable cultivation information for this specific variety is remarkably scarce. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t consider it for your garden, it does mean you’d be venturing into relatively uncharted territory.
What We Don’t Know (But Wish We Did)
The gardening world is still catching up with detailed information about many of our native plants, and whorled marshpennywort is a perfect example. Currently, we lack specific details about:
- Preferred growing conditions and soil requirements
- USDA hardiness zones
- Mature size and growth rate
- Pollinator and wildlife benefits
- Propagation methods
- Specific landscape applications
Should You Plant It?
The honest answer? It’s complicated. While whorled marshpennywort is indeed native and therefore theoretically a great choice for supporting local ecosystems, the lack of cultivation information makes it a challenging plant for most gardeners. Without knowing its specific needs, you might struggle to provide the right conditions for it to thrive.
If you’re an adventurous gardener who loves experimenting with lesser-known natives, and you happen to locate a reliable source for this plant, it could be worth a try. Just be prepared for some trial and error, and consider it more of a botanical experiment than a sure bet for your landscape design.
Better-Documented Alternatives
If you’re drawn to the idea of native marshpennyworts but want something with more established growing information, consider looking into other Hydrocotyle species or similar native wetland plants that are better documented and more readily available through native plant sources.
The Bottom Line
Whorled marshpennywort represents both the excitement and the frustration of native plant gardening. While we celebrate every native species and their potential contributions to our gardens and local ecosystems, sometimes we simply need more research and cultivation experience before we can confidently recommend them to home gardeners.
For now, this mysterious marshpennywort remains more of a botanical curiosity than a practical garden choice – but who knows? Perhaps future research will unlock its secrets and reveal it to be the next great native garden plant. Until then, it serves as a wonderful reminder of how much we still have to learn about the incredible diversity of plants calling our regions home.
