Lysimachia nummularia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lis-ih-MAK-ee-ah num-ew-LAH-ree-uh
- Description
-
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. 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.
The Latin specific epithet nummularia means "like a coin", referring to the shape of the leaves.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.
Bright yellow cup-shaped flowers appear during summer along the stems and the leaves are rounded and slightly ruffled.
Creeping Jenny can be used in containers, hanging baskets, or as a ground cover only where its 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. See native alternatives to the left.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Weedy. Susceptible to rust and leaf spots
- See this plant in the following landscape s :
- Floricyle Collector’s Garden Asian Garden - Zen Garden Courtyard Garden Herb & Flower Cottage Garden Pitt County Arboretum Containers
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea '
Golden to chartreuse foliage
- 'Aurea '
- 'Aurea '
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea '
Golden to chartreuse foliage
- 'Aurea '
- 'Aurea '
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lysimachia
- Species:
- nummularia
- Family:
- Primulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small, dry, spherical to ovoid capsules that split open to release seeds/
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3/4 inch cup-shaped yellow flowers with 5 petals speckled with red dots, at leaf axils. Usually solitary, sometimes in pairs. Blooms in summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Green, roundish, slightly ruffled leaves 3/4 to 1 inch wide. The upper surfaces of the leaves have widely scattered, glandular, red to black dots
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
