Midwest Noxious Weed: Do Not Plant
Common Name: creeping Jenny
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Native Range: Europe, southwestern Asia
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 0.16 to 0.33 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to August
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual, Ground Cover, Water Plant, Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Wet Soil
Culture
Easily grown in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants prefer some part afternoon shade in the St. Louis area, but flowers and foliage of yellow-leaved cultivars usually show best yellow color in full sun. Plants spread by creeping stems in optimum growing conditions to form large colonies. Stems will root where leaf nodes touch the ground. Plants tend to be less invasive if grown in lean, somewhat dry soils, however best performance is in moist fertile soils.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lysimachia nummularia, commonly called moneywort or creeping Jenny, is a low-growing, creeping ground cover native to Europe, but has naturalized and is considered invasive in parts of eastern and northwestern North America where it can be found growing along stream banks, lake and pond margins, roadsides, ditches, and other moist, disturbed areas. Mature plants form a leafy mat only 2-4" tall and spreading to fill a 2' area or greater. Roots will form where leaf nodes come in contact with the soil. Thrives in damp soils which will often kill off other types of ground covers. It features rounded, slightly ruffled, leaves (to 3/4" diameter). Profuse, cup-shaped, solitary, bright yellow flowers (to 3/4" across) appear along the stems throughout the summer, with the main bloom period usually occurring in early summer. Tolerates limited foot traffic.
Genus name honors King Lysimachus (661-281 B.C.), Macedonian King of Thrace and is derived from lysimacheios which was the ancient Greek name of a plant in this grouping.
Specific epithet comes from the Greek word for coin (nummus) in reference to leaf shape.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Lysimachia is susceptible to rust and leaf spots. Plants should be closely monitored to avoid unwanted spread. This plant is considered invasive in some parts of the United States. Check local laws and recommendations before adding to your landscape.
Uses
Where invasive spread is not a concern, this plant is an excellent ground cover for areas where it can be left alone to spread or naturalize, such as banks, woodland gardens, along paths, or in moist areas near water gardens or along streams, pools or ponds. Probably too aggressive a spreader for border fronts or areas adjacent to lawns. Can also be planted to cover or spill over stone walls. In areas where this plant is considered problematic, use in hanging baskets or containers where its growth can be monitored. Can be grown as an aquarium plant.