Weeds: Creeping Jenny: Lysimachia nummularia

• Family: Primulaceae
• Cycle: Perennial
• Plant type: Evergreen

Biology

Lysimachia nummularia, commonly called moneywort or creeping Jenny, is a low-growing, creeping ground cover which forms a leafy mat only 2-4″ tall. Roots where leaf nodes come in contact with the soil. Thrives in damp soils which will often kill off other types of ground covers. It features rounded, slightly ruffled, leaves (to 3/4″ diameter). Profuse, cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers (to 3/4″ across) appear in early summer. Tolerates limited foot traffic. Plants spread by rhizomes and self-seeding in optimum growing conditions to form large colonies. Stems may root where leaf nodes touch the ground. Plants tend to be less invasive if grown in lean, somewhat dry soils, however best performance is in moist fertile soils.

Habitat

Lysimachia nummularia can be found in a variety of different habitat types; however, it grows most vigorously and poses the biggest threat in moist areas such as wet meadows, swamps, floodplain forests, stream banks, bottoms, ditches, roadsides and along the banks of small water bodies. It can form a mat-like growth capable of excluding more desirable native plant species. It is native to Europe but is now found across the United States and Canada.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Maintaining a healthy planting or turf area to provide competition will prevent weed establishment.
• If Creeping Jenny is established in your lawn it may take two seasons to eradicate it.
• The plant can be hand pulled where practical. All stems and stem fragments should be removed from the area to prevent the stems from rooting again in the soil. Prolonged submergence will kill Creeping Jenny. At restoration sites, it can be controlled by establishing native grasses to shade it out. Mowing is not effective since Creeping Jenny adheres closely to the ground due to its many rooting nodes.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

Apply according to label directions. Glyphosate products should be applied as spot treatments only! NOTE: Some ingredients listed here are only available in combination. Read the label carefully on combination products to make sure the product is suitable for your specific situation.

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