Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
ABOUT
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea', commonly known as gold creeping Jenny, is an attractive plant valued for its vibrant foliage and trailing habit. The plant features rounded, coin-like leaves that have a striking golden-yellow hue, which often becomes more intense in full sunlight. These leaves are arranged opposite each other along the stems, creating a dense, mat-like appearance. During the growing season, the foliage provides a continuous display of color that can beautifully contrast with darker plants or enhance the brightness of a garden space. Adding to its ornamental qualities, gold creeping Jenny blooms with small, cup-shaped flowers. These blossoms are usually a bright yellow, complementing the golden foliage and adding a subtle decorative touch. The flowers are not typically large or prominent but nestle among the leaves to provide a charming, understated floral display throughout the summer months. The trailing stems of the gold creeping Jenny make it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add a cascading element to their landscapes. It is frequently utilized in hanging baskets, garden containers, and along garden borders, where its stems can spill over edges, softening lines and providing a lush, full appearance. The plant has a vigorous growth habit and can become a ground cover in the right conditions, spreading across the garden with ease. Overall, gold creeping Jenny is celebrated for its colorful foliage, easy care, and versatility in garden design, without regard to its specific dimensions. It can be appreciated for the brightness it brings to gardens and for the ease with which it can fill in garden spaces, creating a carpet of golden color.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Primulaceae
Synonyms
Creeping Jenny, Moneywort, Golden Creeping Jenny, Goldilocks, Golden Moneywort, Yellow Loosestrife
Common names
Lysimachia nummularia var. aurea
ToxicityTo humans
Creeping Jenny is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no well-documented cases of poisoning from ingesting this plant, and it is not known to contain any significant toxic compounds that would cause harm to people. Therefore, accidental ingestion is unlikely to lead to serious health consequences.
To pets
Creeping Jenny is also considered non-toxic to pets. It is not known to cause any serious effects if ingested by animals such as dogs or cats. However, as with any non-food plant, eating large quantities might lead to gastrointestinal upset or discomfort for your pet due to the unusual material or fiber.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Golden
Flower color
Yellow
Height
0.2 feet (5-10 cm)
Spread
2 feet (60 cm)
Plant type
Creeper
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Creeping Jenny 'Aurea' offers vibrant golden-yellow foliage that can provide a stark contrast in the garden and brighten shaded areas.
- Ground Cover: It is effective at covering bare spots and can reduce soil erosion with its mat-forming growth habit.
- Easy Maintenance: This plant requires minimal care once established and can tolerate various soil types and conditions.
- Drought Tolerance: Although it prefers moist conditions, Creeping Jenny 'Aurea' can withstand periods of drought, making it a versatile choice for different gardens.
- Wildlife Attraction: Its flowers attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for the ecosystem.
- Fast Growth: The plant spreads quickly, allowing for rapid coverage and filling in of spaces in the garden or landscape.
- Flexibility in Planting: It can be used in a variety of settings such as rock gardens, borders, containers, and hanging baskets due to its trailing habit.
- Seasonal Interest: Creeping Jenny 'Aurea' provides year-round interest with evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, depending on the climate.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography Enhancer: Creeping Jenny, with its bright golden foliage, can be used as a vibrant ground cover in garden photography to accentuate the beauty of darker plants and features.
- Aquarium Decoration: The water-loving nature of Creeping Jenny allows it to be used in aquariums as an ornamental plant, creating a natural and attractive habitat for fish.
- Erosion Control: Its dense mat-forming habit makes Creeping Jenny an excellent plant for stabilizing soil and preventing erosion on banks and slopes.
- Crafting Material: The flexible stems and attractive leaves can be incorporated into floral arrangements or used to create natural wreaths and other decorative crafts.
- Fairy Gardens: Due to its miniature scale and lush appearance, Creeping Jenny is a popular choice for creating whimsical fairy gardens.
- Living Mulch: Planted between larger plants, Creeping Jenny can act as a living mulch, helping to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Water Garden Accent: This plant can grow partially submerged, making it a great addition to the margins of water gardens or small ponds.
- Seasonal Ground Cover: Creeping Jenny's golden leaves offer seasonal interest, especially in fall when colors are changing, providing a contrast to typical autumn hues.
- Educational Tool: Because it's easy to grow, Creeping Jenny can be used in educational settings to teach children about plant growth and ground cover plants.
- Green Roof Planting: The shallow root system of Creeping Jenny makes it suitable for green roofs where soil depth is limited but coverage and low maintenance are desired.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Creeping Jenny is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Creeping Jenny is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Wealth and Prosperity: The common name "Moneywort" comes from the coin-like shape of its leaves, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
- Utility: Historically, people have used Moneywort for its medicinal properties, making it a symbol of utility and practicality.
WaterFor Creeping Jenny, it's important to maintain moist soil, particularly during the growing season in spring and summer. Water the plant thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry, usually once or twice a week depending on the weather conditions. When watering, aim to provide about one gallon of water per square yard of soil, ensuring you're watering deeply enough to reach the roots. During the cooler months, reduce the frequency as the plant's water requirements will decrease. Overwatering or waterlogged soil should be avoided to prevent root rot.
LightCreeping Jenny thrives best in partial shade to full sunlight. It's adaptable and can handle a few hours of direct sunlight, but too much can scorch the leaves, while too little may reduce its vibrant color. A spot that receives morning sunlight followed by dappled shade or full sun with some protection during the hottest part of the day is ideal.
TemperatureCreeping Jenny fares well in a wide range of temperatures, being hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. It can survive minimum temperatures down to about -40 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for many climates. However, the ideal growing temperatures for this plant are between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which encourages healthy growth and vibrant foliage.
PruningPruning Creeping Jenny can help maintain its shape and encourage denser growth. It should be pruned lightly throughout the growing season to remove any damaged or dead foliage and to control its spread. The best time for more substantial pruning is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. This plant can be pruned quite heavily if needed, as it is a vigorous grower.
CleaningAs needed
SoilCreeping Jenny thrives best in a soil mix that is rich in organic matter, has good drainage, and holds moisture without becoming waterlogged. A mixture of two parts peat moss or coco coir, one part perlite, and one part garden soil or compost is ideal. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
RepottingCreeping Jenny does not require frequent repotting, and it can often be allowed to grow unimpeded for several years. Generally, repot every 2 to 3 years or when the plant appears to be outgrowing its current container or the soil seems exhausted.
Humidity & MistingCreeping Jenny adapts well to a wide range of humidity levels but prefers a moderately humid environment. Aim for a humidity level between 40% and 60% for optimal growth.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil consistently moist.
Outdoor
Plant in part shade to full sun, ensure moist, well-draining soil.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA
Life cycleLysimachia nummularia 'Aurea', commonly known as Golden Creeping Jenny, begins its life cycle as a seed, which germinates in damp soil conditions in spring. The seedling emerges and develops into a mat-forming perennial with rounded, golden-yellow leaves and a creeping growth habit. As the plant matures, it spreads through stolons, which root at nodes to form new clusters of foliage. During the summer, it produces small, cup-shaped yellow flowers that are followed by seed capsules containing numerous tiny seeds. The plant goes into dormancy during the winter, with the above-ground parts dying back, while the root system persists. With the return of favorable conditions in the following spring, Golden Creeping Jenny resumes growth from the surviving roots and stolons, completing its annual life cycle.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
Creeping Jenny, scientifically known as Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea', is a perennial ground cover that's easily propagated during spring or early summer. The most popular method of propagation for Creeping Jenny is through division. This involves gently separating the plant into smaller sections, ensuring each section has a portion of the root system. The divisions can then be replanted immediately in moist soil, spaced about 10 to 12 inches (approximately 25 to 30 cm) apart, where they will quickly establish and spread. Keeping the soil consistently moist after planting will promote root development and help the new plants to establish.
