Creeping Jenny

(Lysimachia nummularia)

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Lysimachia nummularia, commonly known as Creeping Jenny, is an evergreen or semi-deciduous perennial herb native to damp, open woodland areas and along riverbanks in Eurasia. It typically grows to 5 cm (2 in) in height and spreads rapidly and indefinitely by stem-rooting, forming a dense mat of foliage. The plant features rounded, bright green leaves and produces cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers 2 cm in diameter during the summer months. The flowers are modestly showy and add a splash of color to the garden. The cultivar ’Aurea’, also known as golden Creeping Jenny, has yellow leaves and is somewhat less aggressive than the species. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its ornamental qualities.

Creeping Jenny is valued for its fast growth and ability to cover ground quickly, making it an excellent choice for ground cover, especially in wet or boggy areas. It can also be used as an aquatic marginal plant. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun to part shade, preferring consistently moist soils with medium drainage. It is hardy, surviving lows of −15 °C (5 °F) (RHS H5). However, gardeners should be cautious as Lysimachia nummularia can be potentially invasive outside its native range, particularly in the United States, and should be planted with care to prevent unwanted spread.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.3-0.5 feet
  • Width: 1-1.5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium, High
  • Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Damp, open woodland areas and along riverbanks in Eurasia

Other Names

Common Names: Moneywort , Herb Twopence , Twopenny Grass , Creeping Loosestrife , Creeping Yellow Loosestrife , Creeping-Jenny , Pengebladet Fredløs , Pfennigkraut , Pfennig-Gilbweiderich , Suikeroalpi

Scientific Names: Lysimachia nummularia , Lysimachia nummularia var. festiva , Lysimachia repens , Ephemerum nummularia , Lysimachia nummularia f. longipes , Lysimachia nummularia subsp. longipes , Lysimachia rotundifolia , Lysimachia suaveolens , Lysimachusa nummularia , Naumburgia prostrata

GBIF Accepted Name: Lysimachia nummularia L.