Lysimachia Species, Creeping Jenny, Creeping Yellow Loosestrife, Moneywort

On Mar 3, 2018, SecretMonkey from Salisbury, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

I have read the negative comments about this plant being invasive, however, in my case I have a dark shady corner where not much grows, not just because of the shade but because there are crepe myrtles and other shrubs that have created an extensive and impenetrable root system. So digging holes to plant things like ferns, hostas, solomons seal, or anything else, becomes a battle of wills with the soil, which is heavy clay, and the ground is bare and ugly. Almost everything I have planted there does not thrive. But Creeping Jenny seems to like those conditions. Slowly but surely over a 3 year period, little spots of yellow have emerged to make a bright ground cover, lighting up the area.. Even if it does spread into my lawn and takes over the wild violet, chives, and chickweed that my "... read morelawn' consists of, that's just one less piece of yard I will have to mow. So Creeping Jenny is my friend.

On Apr 16, 2015, marlene67 from Indianapolis, IN wrote:

Pretty plant, but it actually Jumped a basket and has started to root itself. would have to agree with invasive.

On Nov 12, 2013, ilv2grdn from Cross Timbers, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

I have this plant in several places throughout my flowerbeds Although many have said that it is invasive, however, I think it is a quick, simple fix for problem areas and and for erosion control. I have had these for 15 years and I have not experienced the problems that others have mentioned. I'm in zone 6a.

I have this plant in several places throughout my flowerbeds. I must admit that it got to most of those places by itself and it gets into places where I don't want it to be as well. I just pull it and that's the end of that. The main plant from which it branches out across the ground, is the only part of the plant that is deeply rooted. It roots all along the entire lenth of the branches as they grow outward. The following year, if I don't want last years branches, those... read more are easily pulled and they will not come back. If you pull a plant that has been there for more than a year, those are the plants that will continue to grow back because the roots are deeper. Unless it is dug. The older the plant, the deeper the roots.

This is the perfect plant if you have a problem area where nothing else will grow. This plant will quickly blanket bare ground and turn it into beautiful emerald green, speckled with masses of bright yellow blooms in mid spring to mid summer. Whether it be in sun or shade, wet or dry. And when I say blanket, I mean just that. Any small plants or rocks will also be covered by this plant. If you have an erosion problem, this is perfect for that too.

On May 15, 2012, windsor224 from Haycock,Bucks County, PA (Zone 6b) wrote:

I expect by next year I'll want to change my rating to negative because it IS invasive. So far it's under control and is very pretty but it's on its way to cover my moss which I've cultivated in the rock garden. I don't want that so I may be very sorry that I planted this. Don't plant it near anything that you don't want covered by this yellow blanket.

On Jul 10, 2011, ogon from Paradise, CA (Zone 9a) wrote:

This is the same Moneywort sold in the aquarium industry. It does very well fully submerged as long as there is enough light (higher light the better). It tends to melt in lower light aquariums. Does best with supplemental CO2, and the growth under water is pretty different from emersed growth.

On Jul 1, 2010, slugsaplenty from Lowell, OR wrote:

At first I thought this was a great groundcover with a charming bloom of a bright shade of yellow. It was happily growing in a border & also in a large flower bed. Well, growing unchecked for over a year it managed to crawl up & over my hardy geraniums, lilies, and even had started crawling up the trunk of my silk tree. I am now in the process of erradicating every trace of it. First with hand to weed combat. It has a web like root system that is almost impossible to remove completely. I have been removing my desireable plants, cleaning their roots & hilling them in a clean spot while I poison all the creeping jenny. It is even difficult to poison. I've sprayed it twice with round up type poison. & it's still breathing. By this time next year I may be creeping jenny free. Oh, and the slugs... read more & snails don't even bother it!

On Jan 21, 2010, growalotalot from medicine hat,
Canada wrote:

try it as a pond plant
it is great in one summer one small plant planted on the side of my pond and i let the vines grow into the water it just took off like crazy and made huge roots in the water helped clean the water and covered the top of my 2200 gallon pond in half a summer
it then grew twice as fast the next year as it survived our winter and grew again it was amasing
and the small yellow flowers that covered everything where so nice

On Nov 2, 2009, Terbear1 from Marysville, WA wrote:

I just bought some Creeping Jenny for around my Koi pond. after reading all comments, i will probably keep her in a container. I would like it to creep into the pond and would like to know if this plant is harmful to my Koi if they feel a desire to nibble. Is she harmful to fish?

On Jun 29, 2009, l6blue from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4b) wrote:

I made the mistake of planting this a couple of years ago. It's very invasive, and has spread under my rock border into my lawn. When pulling it up, and piece left will root and start a new plant.

On Jul 2, 2008, hamptonguy5 from Southampton, NY wrote:

This is a very fast growing ground cover. Good for borders, hanging baskets and underneath trees. If one wants an invasive ground cover this is it. I have found this to be deer resistant.

On Sep 24, 2007, Bainbridge from Bainbridge Island, WA (Zone 8a) wrote:

The cultivar 'Aurea' seems to be less invasive than the typical green type, has the benefit of the bright yellow-green coloring, and still makes a good weed-choking ground cover.

The standard version, however, made the trip with us from California four years ago as a ground cover in a pot with a Japanese maple, which was planted in the ground when we arrived here. The maple gave up the ghost shortly thereafter when it was not watered during a vacation, but the green Creeping Jenny has been on the war path ever since and not looked back. Happily, it's in a confined space where it can be controlled; even so, it has to be cut back several times a month to keep it from escaping.

We continue to plant divisions of 'Aurea' in appropriate locations, but would avoid... read more this standard version like the plague.

On Jun 12, 2007, janemngardener from Minneapolis, MN wrote:

I would not say necessarily that I have a negative experience, as the plant thrives and is resilient...but the last 2 springs a little gray caterpillar has chomped virtually all the leaves in the spring.

On May 20, 2007, Lies from Batesville, AR wrote:

We have lived here in Mid-Arkansas for 8 years, and the previous homeowner planted this ground cover in two areas in the yard-a steep hillside, and a drainage ditch. It has invaded other areas, and only made worse when my husband used some top soil from the said area as filler for low spots. Now, it is in several places. As of two years ago, we noticed it becoming invasive, creeping into areas far from the original rooted spots, including the woods. This turned on a red flag for us -the next Kudzoo vine and Japanese Honeysuckle! I used RoundUp to control it more than once. It came back. Last year I used 2,4-d broadleaf herbicide on it twice. I thought that was the last of it. This Spring, I have found it sprouting back from the main rootstocks, though, some of the plants have been ... read morekilled. I will continue to use 2,4-d to completely eradicate it.
The difficulty of this weed is that is it very low growing, and sends out shoots hidden in vegetation, including lawn grass. You can't simply pull it, as the plant breaks off, roots still intact.
We feel it should be banned from the USA,

On Apr 10, 2007, MsKatt from Charlevoix, MI (Zone 4b) wrote:

This grows in my three season pond. I love it. It's not invasive in my 5b/6a zone. It provides habitat for frogs and crayfish, it grows where nothing else seems to want to. It gets dappled sunlight to mostly shady where it's at.

On May 3, 2006, JenniferSM from Woodland, CA wrote:

This is a beautiful addition to my container garden. It grows pretty quickly, and when approaching the edge of the container, "flows" over in a cascading fashion. The chartreuse color is unique and really stands out compared to other foilage. I was also so happy to see that it survived several frosts this winter (stayed evergreen) and when warmer weather hit, started sending out more beautiful chartreuse "babies."

Great plant.....glad I discovered it!

On Mar 20, 2006, Larry1940 from Portland, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:

I found this plant to be invasive, covering everything in its vicinity. I'm still trying to eliminate it! It would be ok for a planter, or for erosion control but I regret the day I planted it in my garden.

On Jun 7, 2005, vossner from Richmond, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

love the chartreuse color of this plant. I grow mine in pots, so invasiveness not a problem. Gave a tiny bit to my dear neighbor last fall and today it has covered about 5 sq ft. Mine is planted in part sun, I water often in summer; she has it planted in mostly shade and requires less watering than mine.

On Jul 25, 2004, CatskillKarma from West Kill, NY wrote:

I love this plant, although it definitely borders on the invasive. The golden-leaved cultivar is readily available at nurseries here in the Catskill mountains of NY and I use it extensively in pots in full sun. The green-leaved version grows wild in wet spots in my lawn, and seems to prefer partial shade. It blooms profusely and reblooms after I mow the lawn.

On Jul 22, 2004, woodspirit1 from Lake Toxaway, NC (Zone 7a) wrote:

It grows in the shade here but not much bloom. It's cool enough here to stop it from being invasive. I am planting it in a little sunnier location to see if it will bloom more...

On Nov 27, 2003, Azalea from Jonesboro, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:

I have had this groundcover for several years - I have never seen a bloom! It does do well in either full sun or shade. If left in the sun it will turn golden yellow, but in the shade it is a mediun green. Creeping Jennie also does well in a hanging basket.

On Sep 1, 2002, Crimson from Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote:

Zone 4: Not nearly as invasive as Sedum Acre! It's behaving very nicely in my light shade garden, the yellow green foliage brightens up the area.