This plant has long stems trailing along the ground. The shiny leaves are almost round, up to an inch in diameter, closely applied to the stem, and semi-evergreen. In winter, the plant is particularly noticeable in the wetlands when there is little else that is so green. In summer, moneywort has flowers with five yellow petals.

Moneywort originated from Europe and is now naturalized here. The common name, and the Latin species name, from nummus (coin), both refer to the shape of the leaves.