Creeping Jenny, also known as Lysimachia nummularia, is an attractive, low-growing groundcover with bright golden-green leaves and yellow flowers. It is a great plant for adding texture, color, and visual interest to the landscape and can be planted in a variety of soils given the appropriate light and moisture.
Planting Creeping Jenny can be done by placing single stems in the ground, or by dividing existing plants to create large sections of the vine-like foliage.
When planting Creeping Jenny, it’s important to choose a spot that has full to partial sun and well-drained soil as the plant does not tolerate wet feet or clay soils. Once planted, Creeping Jenny needs minimal care, but regular application of mulch can help to keep weeds down, ensure that the soil remains moist, and prevent the soil from eroding away.
Additionally, the plants should be pruned each year to control their size and shape, and to encourage new, fresh growth. With proper care and attention, Creeping Jenny will quickly create a beautiful, low-maintenance carpet of foliage that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
How quickly does creeping Jenny spread?
Creeping Jenny, also commonly known by its scientific name of Lysimachia nummularia, is an extremely hardy, low growing spreading perennial which can colonize a wide variety of environments. It is quite fast-growing and easily spreads outwards.
Creeping Jenny will spread by stolons (runners) that form above and just beneath the soil surface. Depending on the environmental conditions and how well it’s maintained, it can spread at least as quickly as a couple of inches per month.
Maintaining Creeping Jenny is a key factor in how fast it spreads, as it produces its highest growth rate in areas that are watered and fertilized regularly. Adequate soils with a moderate amount of organic matter can also help make sure that the spread of this plant is faster.
In its mission to spread, Creeping Jenny makes use of birds and other animals which may transport the propagules to new sites for establishment. Water is another effective means for its spread, with floods and water run-off carrying the propagules to other suitable habitats.
All of these factors combined contribute to its quick spread.
Will creeping Jenny come back every year?
Creeping Jenny is a fast-growing, evergreen perennial plant, so it will come back every year if it is cared for correctly. To ensure that Creeping Jenny returns year after year, the soil should be fertile and moist, and the plant should be kept in a location that receives partial or full shade and is protected from strong winds.
It is important to regularly water and fertilize Creeping Jenny and to keep weeds from invading the area. Additionally, it may be necessary to trim back the plant in the late fall to prevent any excess growth.
With these steps, Creeping Jenny will come back reliably year after year.
Can I keep creeping Jenny over winter?
No, you cannot keep creeping Jenny over winter as it is a tender perennial. This means that it will not stand up well to cold temperatures and snowfall that is typical of winter in many climates. If you happen to live in an area with milder winters, then you may be able to keep creeping Jenny growing through the coldest months of the year.
However, if your region gets very cold in the winter, then you should dig up the plant and keep it in a pot in a sunny spot indoors. When the weather warms up in spring, you can replant it outside.
Is Creeping Jenny toxic to dogs?
No, Creeping Jenny (also known as Lysimachia nummularia) is not toxic to dogs. It is a hardy, low-maintenance, densely-growing plant that can be used as a ground cover or an accent plant and is an attractive addition to any garden.
While Creeping Jenny is not toxic to dogs, there are other plants, such as lilies, which can be toxic to animals, so it is important to make sure that your garden does not contain any plants that could be potentially dangerous to your pet.
If you have any concerns, it is always best to check the safety of a plant before introducing it to your garden. In general, Creeping Jenny is safe and a good option if you are looking for a hardy, low-maintenance garden plant.
Are you supposed to cut back creeping Jenny?
Yes, generally it is important to cut back creeping Jenny to help it thrive. This plant is a fast grower, so it is important to keep its shape nice. Pruning it back throughout the season keeps it from getting out of control.
Pruning also encourages strong, bushy growth. To do this, you should cut back any straggly parts of the plant near the base. You can also remove any damaged or misshapen parts of the plant, but be careful not to take too much of it away.
You should also prune any stems that have grown too long to help control the overall shape of the plant. It’s important to use sharp, clean garden shears when trimming back creeping Jenny to make sure you don’t damage the plant.
Finally, keep in mind that this is an evergreen plant and it doesn’t need to be pruned in the winter when it is dormant.
Should I trim my creeping Jenny?
Trimming your creeping Jenny can actually be beneficial in a few different ways, though it is not absolutely necessary. Regular trimming can help keep your plant neat and tidy, and also encourage further flowering, as well as help prevent the mildew that can develop on the leaves.
It can also be beneficial to trim the plant if it is taking over areas that it’s not meant to be. The most important part of trimming creeping Jenny is to be careful not to remove too much of the foliage at once, as this can shock the plant.
If you are going to trim it, the best time is in the fall or late winter, when it has become too unwieldy or outgrown its bounds. When trimming the plant, be sure to make clean cuts with a sharp blade to prevent damaging the foliage, and to prevent diseases such as powdery mildew.
Will creeping Jenny crowd out other plants?
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) can be a vigorous grower and its vigorous behavior has the potential to crowd out other plants. Creeping Jenny is a fast-spreading plant and it can easily takeover outdoor areas if not managed properly.
It’s ideal to plant Creeping Jenny in areas that have been specifically designed for it, and to keep it away from other desirable plants. Since it is a low-growing evergreen with a thick matting habit, it can spread quickly in well-drained soils.
To prevent it from crowding out other plants, it is important to monitor its growth and periodically prune it to keep it under control. Additionally, planting creeping Jenny in an area that has plenty of space will reduce its ability to spread freely and will reduce its potential to crowd out other plants.
Are creeping Jenny invasive?
Yes, Creeping Jenny, also known as Lysimachia nummularia, can be considered invasive in some parts of the world. While it is a popular choice in gardens and landscape designs, it can quickly spread and overtake certain areas.
It has been known to crowd out other plants as it can be quite dense and take over areas if not managed. In some climates, depending on weather conditions, Creeping Jenny can spread even faster and become an issue if not detected early and isolated.
It is important to identify the environmental conditions that could lead to Creeping Jenny becoming invasive or to use a cultivar that is proven to not become out of control. Some people have even gone so far as to install physical barriers to containing the amount of growth.
It is also important to have some form of maintenance program for areas that are more prone to Creeping Jenny taking over.
Does creeping Jenny need fertilizer?
Yes, creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) does need fertilizer to thrive and promote growth. This plant typically responds well to a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 blend. It’s best to apply a water-soluble fertilizer about once per month in the early spring and then every four to six weeks through the summer months.
Avoid applying a fertilizer during the winter months, as it’s a period of dormancy for creeping Jenny. Additionally, be sure to pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying the fertilizer, as an overdose can cause nutrients to become locked in the soil, making them unavailable to the plant.
How far apart should creeping Jenny be planted?
When planting creeping Jenny, allow between 8” – 12” spacing between each plant. This spacing will provide enough room for roots to spread and the plants to reach their natural shape and size. Ultimately, space the plants however close together you’d like, but if you plant them too close together, they may need to be divided more frequently to keep them from becoming overcrowded.
Can you walk on creeping jenny?
Yes, you can walk on creeping jenny. It is an attractive, low-growing groundcover that is often used in landscaping because of its great adaptability. The creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a fast-growing, hardy perennial with yellow flowers that forms a flat, dense mat.
It is an excellent plant to use between pavers and in rock gardens, as it will trail and weave around and through the spaces. When it is planted in moist soil, with some shade, it will spread quickly and form a beautiful, vivid green carpet of foliage.
For safety and stability, the leaves can be mowed and the mat kept neatly trimmed. However, when it is planted in dry, sunny areas, it may need occasional watering in order to stay lush. When walking on it, it is important to be gentle and not stomp, as the stems are fragile and may break under too much pressure.