Eastern Forest Threat Center - Moneywort

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Moneywort plants

Moneywort plants

© Mandy Tu, The Nature Conservancy

Moneywort
Lysimachia nummularia

Moneywort was introduced into the U.S. from Europe and southwest Asia for horticulture as an ornamental ground cover.

Keywords: Primulaceae, herbaceous, perennial; Common names: creeping Jenny, creeping Charlie, creeping Joan, running Jenny, wandering Jenny, wandering sailor

Distribution Map Distribution Source Image

Threat Description

Moneywort is an herbaceous, low-growing, perennial plant in the primrose family, with evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage. The smooth creeping stems can grow up to 2 ft. long and 2-4 in. in height and branch frequently to form a mat-like growth. Leaves are opposite, simple, broadly ovate, and ¼ to 1½ in. long. The leaves resemble small coins and give the plant its name. Flowers blooming from June to August are solitary in the leaf axils and yellow with small dark red spots. Small seeds are borne in capsular fruits. In riparian areas, seeds are likely dispersed by flood waters. Moneywort also spreads vegetatively by creeping stems. It can be found in a variety of different habitat types; however, it grows most vigorously and poses the biggest threat in moist areas such as wet meadows, swamps, floodplain forests, stream banks, bottoms, ditches, roadsides, and along the banks of small water bodies. It prefers moist, rich, shaded soils. Little is known about the direct ecological impact of moneywort, but there is concern that the dense mats may be precluding the establishment of more desirable native plant species. Consequently, many states list moneywort as invasive.