Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Goldilocks')

Overview

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’, widely known as Creeping Jenny, is prized for its brilliant, coin-shaped golden foliage that hugs the ground, creating a vibrant mat of color. This herbaceous perennial rapidly spreads via creeping stems, making it an exceptional choice when you need durable ground cover for damp or tricky locations where other plants struggle. The cultivar ‘Goldilocks’ specifically offers superior yellow leaf color, though full sun exposure maximizes this intensity.

As a vigorous grower, Creeping Jenny establishes quickly, rooting wherever its nodes touch the soil, quickly filling in spaces and suppressing weeds once established. While highly valued for its vigor and ability to thrive in moist conditions, gardeners must be mindful of its naturalizing tendencies, especially in temperate climates where it can become locally aggressive. Its resilience and brilliant color make it a standout performer.

This low-growing plant offers substantial visual impact with minimal height, cascading beautifully over walls or softening the edges of water features. The primary appeal lies in maintaining that bright golden hue across large areas throughout the prime growing season, providing continuous texture and light green-yellow contrast in the landscape.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Primulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0-0.25 ft
  • Spread: 1-3 ft
• Bloom Time: June to July
• Bloom Description: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium to wet
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ establishes best when planted in the spring or fall into moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils. While it handles full sun, cultivars like ‘Goldilocks’ display their best, most intense golden color when they receive adequate sun exposure; however, afternoon shade is recommended in very hot climates to prevent scorching. It thrives where many other ground covers fail—in consistently damp areas situated near ponds or streams.

Watering should remain steady, especially during establishment or periods of dryness, as this plant prefers medium to wet soil conditions. Though it performs best in fertile soil, plants grown in leaner, somewhat drier soils tend to spread less aggressively, which can be beneficial if containment is a concern. Fertilization is usually unnecessary if the soil quality is adequate.

Pruning or trimming is generally only required to manage its spread or remove dormant foliage in early spring. Since stems root readily where leaf nodes contact the soil, close monitoring is essential to prevent Creeping Jenny from marching into unwanted garden beds or lawns. Its rapid establishment means it rarely requires winter protection in its recommended hardiness range.

Landscape Uses

The aggressive, spreading nature of Creeping Jenny makes it an excellent ground cover where wide coverage is desired, such as in naturalized areas, along stream banks, or in woodland garden settings. Its ability to tolerate both wet soil and shallow-rocky soil broadens its applicability, particularly around the margins of water gardens or ponds where lush, cascading foliage is needed. This vibrant Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ is ideal for softening the edge of stone retaining walls, allowing the golden stems to spill over and soften hard lines.

For gardeners concerned about its invasiveness, this plant excels in controlled environments. Planting Creeping Jenny in hanging baskets or containers allows its trailer habit to shine without posing a threat to adjacent planting areas. It also serves excellently as an annual accent in seasonally damp areas or can even be adapted as a submerged or marginal plant in aquatic setups.

Look for companions that appreciate similar moist conditions but offer contrasting texture or color, such as hostas, ferns, or moisture-loving ornamental grasses. The continuous bright foliage of Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ acts as a natural glowing accent against deeper green backgrounds throughout the season.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Fragrant

Noteworthy Characteristics

Lysimachia nummularia, commonly called moneywort or creeping Jenny, is a low-growing, creeping ground cover native to Europe, but has naturalized and is considered invasive in parts of eastern and northwestern North America where it can be found growing along stream banks, lake and pond margins, roadsides, ditches, and other moist, disturbed areas. Mature plants form a leafy mat only 2-4” tall and spreading to fill a 2’ area or greater. It features rounded, slightly ruffled, leaves (to 3/4” diameter) and profuse, cup-shaped, solitary, bright yellow flowers that appear throughout the summer. The cultivar ‘Goldilocks’ is specifically recognized for its superior rounded golden yellow leaves.

Tolerances

• Wet Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil

Potential Problems

This plant generally does not suffer from serious insect or disease issues, which adds to its reliable nature. However, like many plants, it can occasionally become susceptible to fungal issues such as rust or various leaf spots, particularly when air circulation is poor or humidity is perpetually high. Ensure adequate spacing, especially when planting large swathes of Creeping Jenny, to mitigate these risks.

The foremost management consideration for Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ relates to its aggressive spreading habit. In many regions, this plant is classified as invasive, requiring careful placement or consistent management to prevent encroachment into turf or natural areas. Additionally, the vibrant yellow foliage of the ‘Goldilocks’ cultivar can occasionally revert to the standard green color of the species if growing conditions are suboptimal or if the plant is stressed; monitoring for variegation loss is necessary for maintaining its signature look.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Creeping Jenny suitable for?

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ is robustly cold-hardy, thriving across USDA Zones 3 through 9.

How large does Creeping Jenny grow?

This perennial forms a dense mat, typically holding a height between 0 and 0.25 feet tall, but it spreads vigorously to cover areas between 1 and 3 feet wide or more.

What sun exposure does Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ need?

For the best golden color performance, this cultivar prefers full sun, though it tolerates partial shade, especially in the hottest afternoon hours.

When does Creeping Jenny bloom?

Creeping Jenny blooms profusely, usually starting in June and continuing through July, presenting masses of small, bright yellow flowers.

Conclusion

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ provides exceptional value in the garden due to its vigorous spreading habit and year-round striking golden foliage, perfect for brightening damp corners. While managing the spread of Creeping Jenny is key to long-term success, its tolerance for moisture makes it an invaluable low-maintenance ground cover option. Before planting, verify local regulations concerning its invasive potential and ensure your site offers the consistently moist, sunny to partially shaded conditions required by this brilliant variety.

Propagation Tips

One of the simplest ways to propagate Creeping Jenny is through stem cuttings, capitalizing on its easy rooting nature. Simply snip sections of the trailing stems, ensuring each piece has several leaf nodes attached. These cuttings can be placed directly into moist potting mix or even placed in a jar of water until roots develop, a process that often occurs quite rapidly.

Since the stems naturally root wherever they touch damp soil, division is also an extremely effective method for increasing your stock or managing existing patches. In spring or fall, gently lift sections of a mature clump, making sure each division contains both roots and healthy stems. These divisions can immediately be replanted in their new locations to establish new colonies of this vibrant Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’.

Companion Planting

When using Creeping Jenny near water edges or in consistently moist garden beds, select companions that share high water needs but provide textural or color contrast. Tall, upright plants like Siberian Iris or certain moisture-loving ornamental grasses create an excellent vertical counterpoint to the spreading, flat habit of the golden foliage. Alternatively, integrating it with native moisture-tolerant ground covers like certain sedges can enhance the naturalized look.

Pairing Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ with plants that have deep green or burgundy foliage helps the yellow leaves appear even brighter. Hostas that prefer consistent moisture, or even Astilbe in partial shade locations, create rich layers of color and texture that complement the low-growing, creeping nature of Creeping Jenny beautifully.