Hydrocotyle umbellata , or Dollarweed, is a native, herbaceous, perennial weed found in moist, open areas, along roadside ditches, and swamps. It is an aquatic plant and a member of the carrot family. Dollarweed is typically used as a groundcover that can grow on land and in the water. It blooms from late spring to fall with attractive, shiny, round green leaves the size of silver dollars that form creeping, dense mats in poorly drained to wet soil in the sun. It spreads by long, creeping roots, and its seeds are eaten by waterfowl. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Dense; Horizontal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Orbicular; Peltate
Leaf margin
Crenate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Round peltate, succulent dark green leaves 1/2 to 2 inches long that grow from creeping stems. Long leaf stalks attach at the leaf centers, umbrella-like.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Radial; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small flowers on compact umbel. Blooms throughout the year.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Rounded, flat capsule.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Creepeing stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North and South America
Distribution
Eastern, Central, and Western United States. Central America.
Wildlife value
Seeds eaten by waterfowl. Submerged plants provide habitat for micro and macro invertebrates.
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Leaves cause nausea. Keep away from children.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Ground cover.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Pond
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Water Garden
Garden tags
#high maintenance #perennial weed #water garden #fast growing #flowers late spring #native water plant #perennial #NC native #cpp