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Plant care

Golden Creeping Jenny (Golden Moneywort) care

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Also called Golden Creeping Jenny, Golden Moneywort, Creeping Jenny Aurea.

RHS H7USDA 3-9Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 5–10 cm tall (2–4 in)

Watering rhythm

3-7days

Every 3–7 days; keep consistently moist; will tolerate standing water as a pond marginal

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Moist to wet, humus-rich loam; tolerates boggy conditions

Humidity

Moderate to high; 50–80% RH

Temp

-34°C to 30°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

5–10 cm tall (2–4 in)

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Golden Creeping Jenny burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Best golden colour develops in dappled shade to partial sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. Full sun intensifies the gold to brass but can scorch in hot climates. In deep shade, foliage reverts toward lime-green and growth is less vigorous. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering golden creeping jenny: every 3–7 days; keep consistently moist; will tolerate standing water as a pond marginal. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Requires reliably moist to wet soil. Unlike most ground covers, it thrives in boggy areas and pond edges where other plants struggle. Dry soil causes leaf yellowing and dieback. Mulch to retain moisture in garden borders.

Soil and pot

Golden Creeping Jenny grows best in moist to wet, humus-rich loam; tolerates boggy conditions. Performs best in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil. Tolerates heavy clay if kept moist. Suitable pH range is 5.5–7.0. Can be planted directly at pond margins in up to 5 cm (2 in) of water. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Golden Creeping Jenny sits happiest at around Moderate to high; 50–80% RH humidity and -34°C to 30°C (-29°F to 86°F). Naturally found along stream banks and in damp meadows; thrives in humid conditions. Well-suited to UK garden climates. Tolerates average garden humidity when soil moisture is maintained. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed golden creeping jenny sparingly. Light feeding only; apply a balanced liquid fertiliser once in spring. Overly rich conditions promote rampant spread. In humus-rich soil, no feeding is necessary. Avoid high-phosphate fertilisers near pond plantings. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on golden creeping jenny in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Leaf yellowing and dieback in dry soil — More than almost any other perennial ground cover, this cultivar is intolerant of dry soil. Yellowing leaves are the first sign of drought stress. Water immediately and mulch heavily to retain soil moisture.
  • Invasive spread in moist sites — In ideal wet, warm conditions the plant spreads rapidly and can smother smaller plants. Lift and thin annually in spring. In naturalistic pond-edge settings, the spread is usually an asset.
  • Reversion to green in deep shade — In very low light the golden foliage loses its vivid colouring and becomes lime-green. Move plants to a brighter position — morning sun or dappled light — to restore the characteristic gold.

Propagation

Extremely easy; divide rooted mats at any point in the growing season, as stems root at every node. Stem cuttings placed in water or moist compost root within days to weeks. Can also be transplanted as pot-grown plugs or bare-root pieces. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Golden Creeping Jenny is mildly toxic to pets. Lysimachia nummularia is not individually listed by the ASPCA on its toxic or non-toxic plant databases. The Primulaceae family (formerly Myrsinaceae) has no well-established systemic toxin for pets, but some sources note potential mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested in quantity. Treat with caution and consult a vet if significant ingestion by a pet occurs. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Golden Creeping Jenny care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'?

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' is most commonly called Golden Creeping Jenny, but it is also known as Golden Creeping Jenny, Golden Moneywort, Creeping Jenny Aurea. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Golden Creeping Jenny apply identically to anything sold as Golden Moneywort.

How much light does golden creeping jenny need?

Golden Creeping Jenny grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Best golden colour develops in dappled shade to partial sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. Full sun intensifies the gold to brass but can scorch in hot climates. In deep shade, foliage reverts toward lime-green and growth is less vigorous.

How often should I water golden creeping jenny?

Water golden creeping jenny every 3–7 days; keep consistently moist; will tolerate standing water as a pond marginal. Requires reliably moist to wet soil. Unlike most ground covers, it thrives in boggy areas and pond edges where other plants struggle. Dry soil causes leaf yellowing and dieback. Mulch to retain moisture in garden borders. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is golden creeping jenny toxic to cats and dogs?

Golden Creeping Jenny is mildly toxic to pets. Lysimachia nummularia is not individually listed by the ASPCA on its toxic or non-toxic plant databases. The Primulaceae family (formerly Myrsinaceae) has no well-established systemic toxin for pets, but some sources note potential mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested in quantity. Treat with caution and consult a vet if significant ingestion by a pet occurs.

What USDA hardiness zone does golden creeping jenny grow in?

Golden Creeping Jenny is rated for USDA zone 3-9 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Golden Creeping Jenny deep-dive guides

Every aspect of golden creeping jenny care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Golden Creeping Jenny qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Golden Creeping Jenny is also known as Golden Creeping Jenny, Golden Moneywort, and Creeping Jenny Aurea.