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Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
Soften the hard edges of your garden with the luminous glow of Golden Creeping Jenny. This fast-growing, "prostrate" groundcover is famous for its coin-shaped, lime-green leaves that create a dense, colorful carpet of greenery. In mid-June, the plant erupts with bright yellow blossoms, adding a "sunny" pop of interest to rock walls, pond edges, and garden borders. Whether you need a "spiller" for a high-end container or a vibrant filler for bare garden spots, Golden Creeping Jenny is the ultimate low-maintenance solution for instant chartreuse brilliance.
Golden Creeping Jenny
$29.99
The Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'), also known as Moneywort, is a versatile herbaceous perennial that breathes life into forbidding landscapes. This yellow-foliaged variety is much better behaved and far less invasive than its green cousins, making it a favorite for designer gardens. Its small, rounded leaves overlap to form a thick mat that suppresses weeds and handles light foot traffic with ease. When planted in moist areas, it radiates a neon-bright color that stands out beautifully against dark mulch or stone.
Why Choose Golden Creeping Jenny?
Brilliant Year-Round Color:
The chartreuse-to-gold foliage stays vibrant throughout the growing season, providing a constant "highlight" in the garden.
Versatile "Spiller" Habit:
It is the "gold standard" for container gardening, cascading elegantly over the edges of pots and hanging baskets.
Tolerates Wet Soils:
One of the few groundcovers that actually thrives in wet, marshy, or poorly drained areas where other plants might rot.
Easy Edge Softener:
It quickly blurs the lines of rock walls, stone pathways, and garden stairs, giving your landscape a mature, "cottage-garden" feel.
Landscape Versatility
The Perfect Container Companion:
Use it as a trailing accent in mixed planters. It pairs magnificently with dark-leaved Coral Bells (Heuchera), blue-toned Hostas, or architectural Sedges for a professional, high-contrast look.
Pond and Water Features:
Let it scramble along the edges of a backyard pond or stream. It loves the moisture and provides a lush, golden transition from water to land.
Erosion Control on Slopes:
Plant it on bare hillsides or between stepping stones. Its moderate growth rate allows it to fill in gaps and stabilize soil without completely taking over.
Rock Garden Brilliance:
Use it to "fill the cracks" in rock outcroppings. It handles shallow, rocky soil surprisingly well as long as it has access to moisture.
Expert Care and Maintenance
Sunlight:
Thrives in Full Sun. While it can handle partial shade, the foliage will stay its brightest "golden-yellow" when it receives plenty of direct sunlight.
Water and Soil:
Prefers humus-rich, moist soil. Unlike many groundcovers, it does not like to dry out completely. If you are planting it in a container, ensure you water it regularly during the heat of summer.
Management:
While this variety is less aggressive than the species, it is still a vigorous grower. If planting near a pond or a delicate area, a simple physical barrier (like a shallow plastic liner) will keep it exactly where you want it.
Winter Hardiness:
Extremely cold-hardy, surviving down to Zone 3. It is a tough, resilient perennial that returns with even more vigor every spring.
Deer Resistance:
Deer generally ignore Creeping Jenny, making it a safe choice for open, unfenced gardens.
Specifications
Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Mature Height: 2–4 inches (Creeping habit)
Mature Width: 12–18 inches
Foliage Color: Chartreuse to Golden-Yellow
Bloom Period: Late Spring to Early Summer
Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Special Traits: Wet Soil Tolerant, Container Friendly, Deer-Resistant, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance