How to Grow Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping Jenny is a vigorous trailing ground cover with round coin-shaped leaves and cheerful yellow flowers in summer. It thrives in moist soil in sun or shade and spreads rapidly by rooting stems. The golden-leaved 'Aurea' form is especially popular for containers and hanging baskets. Plant 40cm apart and be prepared to trim regularly — it can become invasive in ideal moist conditions. Excellent for pond margins, shady banks, and anywhere you need fast, low-maintenance coverage.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Rarely needed — grows vigorously without feeding. In containers or hanging baskets, a dilute liquid feed monthly during summer keeps foliage lush.
Watch For
- Can become invasive in moist conditions
- Slugs on young growth in spring
- Rust in humid weather
Companions
Hostas, Astilbe, Ferns, Heuchera
Care Requirements
Light
Sun or shade, adaptable
Grows in full sun to full shade. The golden 'Aurea' form needs more light to maintain its colour and reverts to green in deep shade. Green forms tolerate dense shade.
Watering
Moist soil preferred
Thrives in consistently moist to wet soil. Ideal for pond margins and boggy areas. In containers and hanging baskets, water frequently as it dislikes drying out.
Fertilizing
Rarely needed in ground
Grows vigorously without feeding in borders. In containers or hanging baskets, a dilute liquid feed monthly during summer keeps foliage lush.
Pruning
Trim to contain spread
Trim back spreading stems any time they outgrow their space. A hard cut in early spring rejuvenates tired or tatty patches. Roots at every node so pull runners before they establish.
Growing Tips
Contain the spread
Creeping Jenny roots at every leaf node where stems touch soil. In moist borders it can swamp neighbours. Use edging or trim back regularly to keep it in bounds.
Golden form needs more light
The popular 'Aurea' cultivar with golden-yellow leaves needs more sun than the green species to maintain its colour. In deep shade it reverts to green.
Excellent for containers and water features
Trails beautifully over pot edges and hanging baskets. Also thrives in boggy ground and pond margins where few other ornamentals survive.
