Hydrocotyle umbellata - Dollarweed
Family Apiaceae (syn. Umbelliferae)

Description:

Over one hundred species of Hydrocotyle are native around the world. They are low, spreading herbaceous plants. This species has unusual leaves that are round with the stalk attached to the center of the leaf, somewhat like an umbrella. To botanists, this is a peltate leaf. Small white flowers are held in spherical clusters at the top of a short stem. The flower stalks within the cluster are unbranched.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis is another weedy native dollarweed in northeast Florida. Its flower spike is also spherical but a close look shows that the tiny flower stalks in the cluster are branched.

Location:

This plant is common in irrigated landscape areas and along waterways throughout campus.

Size:

Herbaceous perennial to about eight inches tall if undisturbed.

Care Instructions:

Light: full sun to part shade

Water: moderately drought tolerant, grows rapidly in a moist situation, tolerates periodic flooding

Soil: adaptable to a wide pH range

This native plant is treated as a weed through most of northeast Florida. The round leaves stand out in sharp contrast to turf grass. It is very aggressive in irrigated, fertilized lawns and gardens. It spreads by underground shoots. It is difficult to control this plant by pulling or spraying.