Creeping Jenny Varieties: A Guide to Growing and Care

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Close up of Red Creeper Leaves on a Gray Wall
Credit: pexels.com, Close up of Red Creeper Leaves on a Gray Wall

Creeping Jenny is a low-maintenance, fast-spreading groundcover that's perfect for busy gardeners. It thrives in moist environments and can tolerate some shade.

This versatile plant can grow up to 12 inches long, making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets or containers. Its long stems can be trained to cascade or trail, adding a beautiful touch to any space.

With proper care, Creeping Jenny can bloom with small, yellow flowers in the spring, adding a pop of color to your garden. These flowers are a bonus, as the plant's primary appeal lies in its attractive foliage.

Creeping Jenny Varieties

Creeping Jenny is a versatile and hardy perennial that comes in various forms, each with its unique characteristics. One popular variety is the Goldilocks Creeping Jenny, which boasts shiny golden foliage and can thrive in containers or hanging baskets.

The Goldilocks Creeping Jenny can grow up to 2-4 inches tall and 12-14 inches wide, making it an excellent choice for small spaces. It's also a great combination filler plant that brightens up any garden or container.

Credit: youtube.com, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

This variety is award-winning, having received the "Best of Breed Winter" award in 2009 from the North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum, and the "Knock Your Socks Off" award in 2007 from the University of Georgia.

Here are some key characteristics of the Goldilocks Creeping Jenny:

  • Height: 2-4 inches
  • Spread: 12-14 inches
  • Foliage colors: Green, yellow, chartreuse
  • Light requirement: Part sun to sun
  • Water category: Average
  • Uses: Container, landscape
  • Hardiness zones: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Another variety of Creeping Jenny is the Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea', also known as Gold Moneywort or Creeping Jenny. This variety has high spreading potential and can tolerate periods of standing water or damp full shade.

Growing and Care

To grow creeping jenny, provide it with moist, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2.

This plant loves full sun, but in extremely hot regions, it's happy with light shade.

It's a low-maintenance plant that rarely needs pruning, especially when grown in containers.

However, if you're planting it in your landscape or garden bed, you may need to trim it back to control its growth.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Grow Creeping Jenny

Creeping jenny can spread aggressively through rhizomes, making it hard to eradicate in areas it thrives in.

The golden cultivars are less likely to become too aggressive.

It's a good idea to feed it occasionally when planted in your landscape and regularly when in containers.

It's also worth noting that deer won't browse on creeping jenny, making it a great option for wildlife-friendly gardens.

Botany and Ecology

Creeping Jenny varieties thrive in moist environments, preferring full sun to partial shade.

Their ability to spread quickly allows them to cover large areas, making them a popular choice for groundcover.

Creeping Jenny varieties can tolerate a range of soil types, but they perform best in slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.

Their delicate, golden flowers appear in late spring and early summer, adding a touch of color to the landscape.

In ideal conditions, Creeping Jenny varieties can form a dense mat of foliage, suppressing weeds and reducing the need for mulch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the cons of creeping jenny?

Creeping Jenny can be invasive and spread quickly, potentially outcompeting native plants and causing problems in local ecosystems

Seth Meier

Senior Writer

Seth Meier is an experienced writer who has a passion for technology and innovation. He has worked in the tech industry for over a decade and has developed a deep understanding of emerging trends and disruptive technologies. As a blogger, Seth focuses on providing valuable insights and analysis on various topics related to technology, entrepreneurship, and digital marketing.

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