While European in origin, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) has become naturalized in North America where it thrives in most of the United States.
Creeping Jenny is a ground cover plant, as it grows horizontally and spreads via stem-rooting. The leaves are rounded, which is why nummularia translates to “like a coin” in Latin. It is attractive along pathways, trailing and spilling out of containers.
Various subspecies of Creeping Jenny are found in the United States, some with leaves ranging from green to golden yellow. The golden variety, Lysimachia nummularia aurea, most commonly known as “Golden Jenny,” is identified by its bright golden colored foliage. Still, the information provided in this guide applies to all subspecies.
From late spring to summer, expect yellow flowers to bloom. Depending on the area’s temperature, some may even bloom into early fall. Winter bloom is rare.
What Are the Growing Conditions for Creeping Jenny?
Creeping Jenny has comparatively lower requirements than other plants and does well in the USDA zones 4 to 10. Nevertheless, its best growing conditions are within moist, nutrient-rich organic soils that drain well.
If these precise conditions are not available, don’t fret. Provided with adequate water, Creeping Jenny will thrive and take root virtually anywhere.
While full sun is excellent for showcasing the leaves and flowers, excess sunlight can also prove to be damaging. In warmer regions, this plant may need to be partially or fully shaded as afternoon heat can lead to blanched, wilted foliage.
How to Plant Creeping Jenny
Less is more when it comes to Creeping Jenny. The plant grows rapidly and may even prove invasive, competing aggressively with native flora. One plant can extend its reach to two feet in width and will root as it grows, potentially damaging neighboring plants’ root systems.
With this in mind, maintaining a 12 to 18 inch spacing for planting increases a plants capacity to spread and create a beautiful dense carpet ground cover.
Other than being used as a ground cover, you can grow these hardy perennials in containers and pots like in a window garden.
Since it naturally spreads by both seeds and rhizomes, you can root it in water easily.
One of the most effective methods of propagation is to excavate a section of an established patch and relocate it to fresh substrate.
When germinating seeds, it is advisable to do so in a small vessel, as this aids in moisture retention for the seedlings.
Creeping Jenny seedlings should be transplanted from containers or nurseries in early spring so they can settle in and thrive by summer.
For the initial week after planting, your new plants must not dry out. A cool, humid environment is less demanding in terms of watering than hot and arid places.
In optimal conditions, Creeping Jenny can grow and spread two feet rapidly. Prior to planting it, make sure that the space is unencumbered and that the plant will not encroach on or hinder anything else.
If needed, plant boundaries can be contained with barriers such as rocks.
How Do You Care for a Creeping Jenny?
After planting, it requires little attention. Because of the dense cover, it is unlikely to attract pests and there are no significant diseases that affect this species.
Occasionally, leaves may get rust or leaf spots, but these issues are minimum concerns that resolve without intervention over time.
Due to the high moisture requirements of this evergreen perennial, mold may form. In this case, water from below and allow the foliage to dry fully.
Positioning Creeping Jenny in an area of full sun will enable the ground cover to dry out, thus improving growth.
In regions with active slugs, remove all debris that may provide hiding places.
Sufficient sunlight and watering the plants from below their leaves make these plants less slug hospitable.
However, if these strategies do not work, the following non-toxic slug repelling ideas can be useful:
Idea 1: Scatter Egg Shells
The sharp edges of broken eggshells are uncomfortable for slugs. Thus, broken eggshells may effectively repel slugs as they can get stuck.
Alternatively, broken nutshells can replace eggshells. These are easier to see in shaded areas and will work just as well.
Moreover, eggshells will enrich light soils as they decompose due to their calcium content.
Idea 2: Use Coffee as Slug Repellent
Coffee grounds not only serve as a natural fertilizer, but also repel slugs. Protect your Creeping Jenny by scattering coffee grounds around the leaves and flowers to keep them off your plant.
If coffee grounds are your go-to, remember that fresh coffee grounds work best in comparison to instant coffee grounds.
Idea 3: Use a Copper Tape
Giannichia says that slug slime reacts with copper in a way that creates a tiny electric shock. Therefore, if you place copper tape around the rim of your pots and garden containing Creeping Jenne, no slug will dare to encroach.
Idea 4: Use Grapefruit and Orange Rinds as Traps
Slugs are enticed by citrus fruits. For this reason, we can use them for trapping slugs.
In the evening, put several hollowed grapefruit or orange peels face down on the ground allowing sufficient space for slugs to enter. In the morning, remove the traps with the slugs.
Idea 5: Use Slug Repelling Plants
Wormwood, fennel, anise, rue, and rosemary are natural slug repellents. Plant any of these to help control slugs.
Feel free to trim or prune your creeping jenny but if it starts outgrowing where it doesn’t belong. Thanks to its shallow roots, it is quite easy to pull out.
Nonetheless, this is not an enduring remedy, for every season, creeping jenny grows and recovers quickly.
It is important to deadhead blooms to stop unwanted flowered perennials from sowing seeds. This is crucial, particularly when the plant is situated next to an undesired landscape that is teeming with seedlings.
Creeping Jenny vs Creeping Charlie
Creeping Charlie is often confused with a plant referred to as creeping jenny.
Creeping jenny (Glechoma hederacea) is a low, evergreen member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). This should not be mistaken with the similarly spelled family of lysimachia.
Common names include: ground ivy, alehoof or runaway robin. Some regions also call it creeping jenny hence the confusion coming from both sides.
Despite the similarities between these plants, here’s a short comparison that will assist you in distinguishing them:
| Creeping Jenny | Creeping Charlie | |
| Name | Lysimachia-nummularia Other Names: Ground Ivy Field Balm Alehoof Catsfoot Run Away Robin | Glechoma hederacea Other Names: Moneywort Herb twopence Twopenny grass |
| Flowers | Yellow Size 20-30mm Heart-shaped Calyx lobes 5 stamens Flowers solitary or in pairs in axils Flowers from July – September | Purplish-blue Size 10-23mm Two lipped Calyx lobes 4 stamens Flowers grow in clusters of three Flowers from May-June |
| Leaves | Ovate leaves Entire margin Dark spotted | Kidney Shaped Scalloped margins Hairy upper surface |
| Height | 20-65 inches Limp creeping stem, sometimes rooting | 2-12 inches Surface runners can be over a meter long |
Should You Plant Creeping Jenny?
Creeping Jenny could serve as a potential option if you need a perennial flowering plant that requires minimal care because of it’s hardiness.
These hardy plants are foot traffic tolerant and are perfect for gardens and walkways.
It is also used in unconventional medicine to:
- Treat diarrhea
- Increase saliva
- Loosen mucus
- Treat eczema
- Kill bacteria
- Treat/dress wounds
Jenny will flourish in damp and humid areas with very little assistance from the gardener. In hotter regions with dry conditions, Jenny does require some watering but should still thrive if given shade..
Nevertheless, there are certain considerations that one must think about before purchasing this plant.
At times, though, it becomes a problem when Jenny does too well. She retrieves too much and at a much higher speed than expected. In áreas where there isn’t ample space to grow, there is gonna need to be a lot of pulling and shearing.
Because Jenny can be problematic, she is not allowed in certain places. You should always check with local authorities or your county ag office before you plant her.
The silver lining is that, Jennifer grows quite well in pots both inside and outdoors. Hence, should you still want to cultivate the beautiful evergreen fern, you might want to think of potting her.
Yellow leaves appear to take the form of a waterfall pouring from the sides, enhancing the hues of your residence or garden.
Without a doubt, the most meditative endeavor is a garden effort. It enhances the value of not only your home, but your life as well. Nevertheless, determining which plants are ideal for your garden and caring for them can prove to be quite challenging.