Dollarweed (Hydrocotyle umbellata) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Dollarweed
Latin Name: Hydrocotyle umbellata
Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 7–11. In colder zones plants may die back or survive as seed and recolonize the following year. In warmer zones the plant persists year round and spreads more aggressively.
Typical Height: 1–6 in (2.5–15 cm) above the soil surface.
Typical Spread: Spreads aggressively by stolons to form mats often 6–24 in (15–60 cm) or more across.
Bloom Period: Summer to fall in warm climates. Regional timing varies.
Soil Preferences: Prefers moist to wet soils and tolerates standing water. Does poorly in dry, well drained soils. Will grow in a range of soil textures and organic matter levels.
Light Preferences: Full sun to part shade. Tends to be most aggressive in sunny, moist sites but persists in shaded wet areas.
Toxicity: No well documented widespread toxicity to people or pets found in common poison databases. Limited formal data available so verify with local poison control for ingestion or handling concerns.
Propagation: Spreads primarily by creeping stolons and can reproduce by seed. Control requires removal of stolons and seed sources.

Key Facts

Perennial, creeping herb with round, peltate leaves.
Common in wet lawns, irrigation areas, and other moist sites.
Spreads vegetatively by stolons and also by seed.
Forms low mats that can outcompete turf in saturated soils.
Produces small, inconspicuous flowers in umbels.
Tolerates standing water but has poor drought tolerance.
Grows best in warm temperate to subtropical climates.

Dollarweed (Hydrocotyle umbellata) is a low creeping perennial with round peltate leaves that commonly forms mats in moist to wet soils. It thrives in saturated lawns and irrigation areas and spreads both by runners and by seed, which makes it a persistent plant in waterlogged sites.

Identification

Leaves are circular and attached near the center, giving a coin like appearance above short petioles. Plants sit about 1 to 6 inches above the soil surface and creep by thin stolons to form mats often 6 to 24 inches or more across. Small inconspicuous flowers appear in umbels but are easy to miss among the foliage.

Where it grows and best uses

Dollarweed prefers moist to saturated soils and tolerates standing water while performing poorly in dry ground. It grows best in warm temperate to subtropical climates and is reported in USDA zones approximately 7 to 11. It can be used intentionally at pond margins or in very wet sites but tends to outcompete turf in saturated lawns, so it is usually treated as an unwanted weed.

Planting and seasonal care

Establish dollarweed only in locations that remain consistently wet, as the plant has poor drought tolerance. Avoid overwatering irrigated turf to reduce colonization. For intentional planting in wet edges, keep soil moist and expect rapid lateral spread. There are no standard planting depth or spacing guidelines for this species because it spreads primarily by stolons rather than isolated transplants.

Controlling spread and removal

Control depends on removing stolons and limiting seed sources. Pull or dig out complete runners and mats, repeating removal when new shoots appear, because fragments can regenerate. Improving drainage and reducing irrigation make sites less favorable, and reestablishing healthy competitive turf or ground cover reduces recolonization. Contact local extension for recommendations on additional control methods in your region.

After flowering and winter behavior

Dollarweed is perennial in warm areas and produces small umbels that can set seed. In colder climates plants often die back or persist as seed and recolonize the following season. Removing flowering stems reduces seed spread, and lower winter activity in cooler zones can make spring follow up control more effective.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Dollarweed grow?: Growth is rapid in wet warm sites, with stolons forming mats that can expand to several feet over time. It can quickly colonize saturated turf and irrigation areas, so early removal helps limit spread.
Is Dollarweed poisonous?: There is no widespread documentation of acute toxicity in major poison databases, but formal data are limited. Check with local poison control or veterinary resources for regional guidance before assuming safety for pets or children.
Will Crown out my lawn?: In saturated soils dollarweed can outcompete turfgrass and form contiguous patches that reduce turf quality. Improving drainage and cutting back irrigation lowers its advantage and helps turf recover.
Can I prevent it from returning?: Yes. Remove stolons thoroughly, limit surface moisture, and restore competitive turf or planting. Repeated removal for several seasons reduces the seed bank and vegetative fragments that cause reinfestation.
Are chemical controls available?: Chemical options are used in some settings. For safe and legal product recommendations tailored to your lawn and region contact your local extension office before applying herbicides.