Creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is an attractive perennial groundcover. But first, allow me to begin this blog with a story. Years ago I used to maintain a Westwood Plateau site in Coquitlam, BC with a roundabout which had creeping jenny planted around the edges. One of the managers, a no-nonsense polished business guy, fussed about it almost weekly. Do we need more? Is it flowing over the curb edge too much; not enough? Don’t hurt it with your cultivators. Did the delivery dudes run it over again?
Then one day I got a phone call from my boss saying the manager collapsed in his office and died. He was barely into his 40s. Brain aneurism. That was it. Gone in a flash. Now the nearly indestructible Lysimachia nummularia always reminds me of him.
hard to miss yellow flowers coming in summer
Description
Lysimachia nummularia is a low-growing ground hugger, rampant, and evergreen. In summer it produces cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers. That’s when you really notice the plant. Bees will thank you for planting it in your garden. I find yellows very warm, happy colors. I have also seen creeping jenny planted in containers where it nicely spills over the edges. My own salvaged plants are doing fine in pots on the patio. Other uses include hanging baskets and border edging; just watch the spreading habit.
weekly mowing doesn’t stop jenny from creeping into the lawn
labeled rampant and aggressive and this proves it. Lysimachia invading a lawn from its border location
Unlike many other types of groundcovers, it can handle damper soil; it can also handle limited foot traffic. It survived numerous run-ins with delivery trucks in the above-mentioned roundabout.
It prefers full sun or partial shade. Obviously, full sun will give you better looking flowers. If your garden is shady, this will be a colorful groundcover plant. There are no serious diseases or insect problems to report.
In combination with yellow-flowered Coreopsis
As spiller in a pot
Source: www.finegardening.com
Pictures: Vas Sladek
