Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny

Botanical name: Lysimachia nummularia L.

Bloom type: Perennial 

Creeping Jenny is an herbaceous, semi-evergreen perennial in the Primulaceae (primrose) family native to Europe and temperate Asia. It was introduced in North America as an ornamental ground cover then naturalized.  Only a few inches in height, stems branch out and readily root where leaf nodes contact soil, forming a broad mat. It also spreads via a slender rhizome. It prefers moist areas such as wet meadows, seeps, swamps, banks of streams and ponds, roadsides, and ditches but also tolerates drier conditions. In some areas it is considered an invasive weed and ecological threat, as its vigorous growth competes with native species. This plant often does not flower but may produce small yellow cup-shaped flowers at the leaf axils. Although it primarily spreads vegetatively, it can also spread by seeds dispersed through flood waters.

Creeping Jenny can be used in containers, hanging baskets, and rock walls or as a ground cover only where invasive spread is not a concern. It is not a good choice for borders or near lawns as it spreads too aggressively and is difficult to control. 

The Latin species name means “like a coin” and is attributed to the round flat coin-shape of its leaves.

Information sourced from the NC Master Gardener Plant Toolbox