Yes, creeping Jenny (also known as Lysimachia nummularia) can make an excellent ground cover for many different types of landscapes. It is a flexible and versatile plant that is easy to care for and can quickly cover large spaces, making it an ideal solution for problem areas that need rapid coverage.
Creeping Jenny has bright green, round leaves that can spread up to two-and-a-half feet in height and width. It is a perennial plant that is hardy, able to tolerate full sun or partial shade and a variety of soil conditions.
It is also very drought tolerant, so it does not require much water or maintenance once it has been established. It can be used to cover bare soil or even concrete, providing quick ground cover as well as reducing erosion due to its shallow roots and spreading habit.
Because Creeping Jenny spreads rapidly, it is important to keep it mulched or in its designated area. While it can be an attractive ground cover, it can spread out of control if left unchecked. The bright yellow flowers it produces from late spring until late summer will attract pollinators, making it a great addition to any garden.
All in all, Creeping Jenny is an excellent choice for ground cover and has many desirable qualities that make it a reliable and attractive addition to any landscape.
Does creeping Jenny choke out other plants?
In general, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) can crowd out other plants if it is not controlled. This aggressive ground cover is fast-growing and can be very invasive as it is able to spread profusely in moist soil conditions.
It’s important to keep Creeping Jenny in check, as it can quickly spread and dominate any planting space, preventing other plants from getting their desired amount of nutrients, water, and sunlight. You must consistently remove any stray creeping Jenny that may have begun invading nearby plants and weed out any extra thick patches to prevent it from choking out other plants.
Additionally, it is important to provide the area with proper edging or other controls to keep the Creeping Jenny from overrunning its allotted space.
How quickly does creeping Jenny spread?
Creeping Jenny, otherwise known as Lysimachia nummularia, is a fast-growing plant that will quickly spread both in width and in height. This is why it is often used for ground cover, to help fill a garden with greenery.
Creeping Jenny can spread underground via a network of stems that each produce new roots and shoots. Depending on the conditions and the care it receives, Creeping Jenny can spread 1-2 feet in a single growing season.
In other cases, if it is not maintained or spaced out, it can spread up to 3-4 feet in a single growing season.
Additionally, Creeping Jenny will drop several self-sowing seeds which can germinate and sprout to create new plants. This will further contribute to its spreading capabilities.
Given the right conditions and the right amount of care, Creeping Jenny is capable of quickly spreading over large areas, both horizontally and vertically.
Will creeping Jenny come back every year?
Yes, creeping Jenny is a perennial plant, meaning it will come back each year. This fast-growing groundcover is also very hardy and resilient, making it a good choice for gardeners in many different climates.
It will spread and fill in an area quickly, but can easily be kept in check by regular maintenance such as trimming or cutting back. However, in the coldest climates, it will likely die off during the winter and need to be replanted the next spring.
Is creeping jenny toxic to dogs?
No, Creeping Jenny is not toxic to dogs. Creeping Jenny is a type of evergreen perennial that belongs to the genus Lysimachia of the primrose family, Primulaceae. Its scientific name is Lysimachia Numularia and is known by other common names such as moneywort or twopenny grass.
This plant is not toxic and is considered to be safe for dogs. However, since some of its parts are mildly toxic, you should not allow your dog to ingest it to be on the safe side. According to the University of California’s Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, the plant contains an irritant sap that can cause mild stomach upset or skin irritation if consumed in large doses.
Additionally, if the plant is consumed in large amounts, it may cause vomiting or diarrhea.
What’s the difference between creeping Charlie and creeping jenny?
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) and Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) are both perennial plants in the Lamiaceae or Mint family. They are both creeping plants and can be grown in containers, as ground cover, or along the edges of gardens and lawns.
Creeping Charlie is a native plant to Europe, North Africa and temperate parts of Asia. It is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial with round, deep green, scalloped leaves and clusters of tiny, lavender-blue flowers in the spring.
Creeping Charlie spreads rapidly by underground stems (known as stolons) that root freely along the way.
Creeping Jenny, on the other hand, is native to Europe and Northern Africa, but is widely planted elsewhere in gardens. This creeping perennial has round, bright-green leaves and bright yellow, star-shaped flowers throughout the summer.
It spreads rapidly as well, but not as vigorous as Creeping Charlie. Creeping Jenny has more of an erect growth habit to it’s stems than its counterpart and does not root as readily along the way when spreading.
What looks good with creeping jenny?
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a fast-growing, evergreen, trailing groundcover with bright green, oval-shaped leaves and yellow blooms. It is ideal for paths, open spaces, and is tolerant of foot traffic.
When planting Creeping Jenny, it is important to consider what other plants could compliment it.
There are a variety of plants that look beautiful when paired with Creeping Jenny. Hostas, ferns, and ivy are some of the best choices for adding texture and color to this vivacious groundcover. Hostas are a great choice because of their ability to form mounds of foliage which provide height contrast to the trailing Creeping Jenny.
Ferns also look great when planted near it as their soft foliage creates an elegant backdrop. ivy, which is also a trailing groundcover, creates a lush look when planted in front of it.
Beautiful blooms are sometimes a necessity when creating a garden and Creeping Jenny is no exception. Perennials such as hellebores, daylilies, and Gypsophila look stunning when planted around Creeping Jenny.
These plants create a nice contrast to the foliage of the Creeping Jenny and draw attention to the other elements of the garden.
In shade gardens, ground covers like Heuchera, Lamium, and Ajuga are great choices for helping to fill in the gaps and add color. These plants will combine nicely with the leafy foliage of Creeping Jenny and help to create a nice transition from shade to sun.
Furthermore, Heucheras and Lamiums are especially useful for brightening up shady areas.
Overall, when it comes to complimenting Creeping Jenny, the possibilities are endless. By carefully selecting a variety of complimentary plants, anyone can create a beautiful garden with this vivacious groundcover.
How do you stop creeping jenny from spreading?
The best way to stop creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) from spreading is to physically remove it. This includes the roots, runners, and stems so that the plant does not grow back. Additionally, to prevent further spread, it is important to keep the area around the original patch of creeping jenny trimmed, mowed, and weeded.
It is also important to avoid putting too much fertilizer around the patch, as this can promote the growth of the plant. If the patch is too large to physically remove, herbicides can be used to kill existing plants and prevent further growth.
However, these should always be used with caution and in accordance with all label instructions and safety recommendations. Finally, it is important to keep in mind that when it comes to managing invasive plants, prevention is the best method.
Therefore, it is important to properly identify and understand the behavior of creeping jenny before it is planted in a garden or landscape.
Should I cut back creeping jenny?
It depends on your goals. If you want to keep the creeping jenny in bounds, then yes, you should cut back the plant. Creeping jenny is a vigorous groundcover, so it can spread quickly and outgrow its intended area if it isn’t pruned annually.
Pruning the plant will not only keep it manageable, it will also promote new growth and create an attractive, neat appearance.
To prune it, you’ll want to use hand pruners or shears to cut the stems of the creeping jenny a few inches above the ground after it blooms. You can prune it further if you wish, depending on the size and shape you’d like the plant to take.
Removing any dead stems is also important as it will help encourage new growth and improve the overall health of the plant.
Where does creeping Jenny grow best?
Creeping Jenny (also known as Lysimachia nummularia) grows best in moist soils with full or partial sun. It prefers nutrient-rich soils and performs best in areas with mild to moderate temperatures. Low maintenance, Creeping Jenny is exceptionally cold-tolerant, though it may die back with temperatures that dip below 0°F/-17°C.
While Creeping Jenny prefers moist soils, it will tolerate both wet and dry conditions. When placed in gardens, planting Creeping Jenny in a spot where it can spread unhindered is essential, as it quickly grows and can become invasive in some regions.
This plant is also a favorite among pond gardeners, as it tolerates the wettest of soils, and even prefers to have its “feet wet” most of the time. Grown both in ponds and in gardens, consider using Creeping Jenny as a groundcover or to help fill in between larger plants and rocks.
As a bonus, this plant will also attract beneficial pollinators.
What is the hardiest ground cover?
The hardiest ground cover is often determined by the local climate and soil type. However, some general contenders for the top spot include: pachysandra, creeping thyme, creeping sedums, creeping vinca, and ajuga.
Pachysandra is a hardy and easy to grow evergreen ground cover that forms a dense carpet and remains green all year round. It has medium to dark green foliage and a spreading habit, making it perfect for covering larger areas of ground.
Creeping thyme is a low growing perennial herb that has fragrant foliage and attractive blossoms in pink or white. It can be used to create low-maintenance pathways, rock gardens, or a low-growing boarder.
Creeping sedums are perfect for erosion control and as a low-maintenance garden solution. They come in many varieties with distinctive foliage and provide a range of color, texture, and durability that easily make them a great choice for any garden.
Creeping vinca is a trailing evergreen ground cover with glossy, dark green foliage. This low-maintenance option can tolerate a wide range of soils and is well-suited to moist areas and dry spells better than most other ground covers.
Ajuga is a fast-spreading perennial ground cover which has glossy, dark green foliage throughout the year and produces striking spikes of blue flowers in the summertime. Ajuga prefers moist soil, however, it is also drought-tolerant and a great choice for sloped landscapes as it helps control erosion.
Can you overwater creeping jenny?
Yes, it is possible to overwater creeping jenny. This is because creeping jenny is a species of plant that prefers moist but well-drained soils when it comes to its watering needs. If you consistently deliver more water than what is required, the plant can start to develop root rot or other fungal diseases due to waterlogged soil.
To prevent this, water the plant only when the top inch of the soil is dry and ensure that their soil has plenty of air pockets for drainage. Additionally, checking the drainage holes of the containers is essential as any waterlogged soil can be removed as soon as possible to prevent any root damage caused by overwatering.
Why is my creeping jenny drying out?
Your creeping jenny may be drying out for a variety of reasons. If it is placed in direct sunlight for too long, it can dry out from the heat. Furthermore, if the creeping jenny is in an area with high temperature and humidity, it could be drying out due to lack of water.
It is important to ensure your creeping jenny gets plenty of water and any excess water is allowed to drain away. Additionally, if the area is located in a windy spot, it could be drying out from too much wind.
Additionally, the soil may be too sandy and not retain enough moisture. It is important to ensure the soil is well-draining and amended as needed with organic matter to ensure that the nutrients found in the organic matter and the soil can help keep the soil moist.
Finally, if your creeping jenny is planted too close to trees or other shrubs, they may be competing with your plants for vital nutrients and water, causing it to dry out.
Should creeping jenny be cut back?
Yes, creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia), also known as moneywort, should be cut back periodically to keep it looking neat and tidy. As an evergreen perennial, it will slowly spread over the years, so it’s important to take steps to limit its size.
If you don’t take the time to prune it, it can quickly become unruly and overtakenthe garden bed. However, if you do prune it back, it will encourage it to become denser and bushier. It’s best to prune the plant back in either early spring or late fall.
While pruning, avoid cutting off the tender new growth. If you otherwise think it needs to be thinned, just remove entire shoots to thin out the plant. It’s a great idea to cut it back to the new growth since it will promote a fuller, bushier look that is usually desired for creeping jenny.