Will Creeping Jenny Kill Other Plants? Managing This Aggressive Grower

With its rapid growth and spreading abilities, creeping Jenny is renowned for its potential to invade gardens and choke out neighboring plants. This aggressive groundcover sparks debate among gardeners – is it an attractive accent, or a threat? Here we dig into the plant’s invasive traits and best practices for protecting other flora.

Overview of Creeping Jenny

Known botanically as Lysimachia nummularia, creeping Jenny is a low-growing perennial ground cover that spreads via creeping stems that root at nodes Its round, coin-shaped leaves give rise to its other common name – moneywort

Native to Europe, this adaptable plant thrives in moist soils and filtered sunlight. Left unchecked, creeping Jenny forms dense mats that dominate its surroundings.

While valued for its foliage and yellow flowers creeping Jenny’s aggressive growth habit makes it a controversial choice for mixed gardens and landscapes.

Does Creeping Jenny Kill Other Plants?

The short answer is yes – creeping Jenny can potentially kill or damage nearby plants in several ways:

• Crowding out – By quickly forming dense mats, creeping Jenny blocks sunlight and monopolizes nutrients needed by other plants.

• Strangling – The stems root wherever they touch soil, sometimes encircling and strangling other plant stems.

• Allelopathy – Creeping Jenny may release toxins that inhibit other plants’ growth. However, more research is needed to confirm allelopathic effects.

• Harboring pests/disease – Dense creeping Jenny patches can increase humidity and harbor damaging fungi and insects.

So left uncontrolled, this aggressive creeper will certainly compete with and suppress neighboring plants. Outright killing may occur indirectly, via depriving other plants of light and nutrients.

Tips for Managing Creeping Jenny Among Other Plants

While creeping Jenny demands diligence, you can enjoy its benefits in your landscape without sacrificing other plants. Follow these tips:

• Site carefully – Plant creeping Jenny away from rare, fragile plants. Give it space to roam without impacting prized specimens.

• Use barriers – Edge beds with metal, thick plastic, or masonry to block creeping Jenny from invading other areas.

• Amend soil – Avoid overly rich soil which accelerates creeping Jenny’s growth. Add sand or gravel to improve drainage and slow spreading.

• Watch borders – Monitor edges regularly and prune back or dig out shoots encroaching on weaker plants.

• Allow competition – Plant specimens that naturally compete well near creeping Jenny, like ivy, vinca, or other vigorous groundcovers.

• Prune often – Cutting creeping Jenny back 2-3 times per year curbs its spread and prevents choking out nearby plants.

• Employ chemicals cautiously – Spot-treat creeping Jenny with herbicide, taking great care to avoid harming other plants.

With attentive management, it is possible to keep creeping Jenny under control among your other garden plantings.

Alternatives Less Prone to Invasiveness

For gardeners unwilling to battle creeping Jenny’s spread, safer groundcover options share its virtues without the aggressive growth. Consider these creeping Jenny alternatives:

• Sweet woodruff – Fragrant white flowers on a low carpet of green leaves. Tolerates shade.

• Creeping phlox – A native creeper with colorful spring blooms. Spreads slowly.

• Creeping thyme – The aromatic foliage and flowers thrive with little care.

• Irish moss – Dense mossy growth in green or gold tolerates traffic once established.

• Ajuga – Known as bugleweed, the carpets of blue flower spikes take some foot traffic.

• Dichondra – A gentle spreader with silver dollar-like foliage. Often used as a lawn alternative.

• Mazus reptans – Soft mats of small leaves sprinkled with blue and white spring flowers.

• Lobelia siphilitica – This well-behaved perennial has vivid blue late-summer blooms.

While not as fast-growing as creeping Jenny, these plants offer comparable functionality without the ruthless invasiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions About Creeping Jenny

Here are answers to some common questions about managing this infamous creeper:

Q: How quickly does creeping Jenny spread?

A: With ideal conditions, creeping Jenny can spread up to 3 feet (91 cm) per year via its creeping stems. It spreads fastest in moist, nutrient-rich soil.

Q: Will creeping Jenny return after removal?

A: Its tenacious roots will likely resprout after removal. Repeated manual removal and monitoring for regrowth is needed to fully eradicate.

Q: Is creeping Jenny deer resistant?

A: Deer tend to avoid creeping Jenny, making it a good option for deer-prone areas. However, it may attract rabbit grazing.

Q: Is creeping Jenny invasive?

A: While native to Europe, creeping Jenny’s aggressive spreading habit allows it to invade and disrupt native ecosystems in North America and elsewhere.

Q: Does creeping Jenny attract pollinators?

A: The bright yellow flowers provide nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Keep it controlled to avoid crowding out more appealing native wildflowers.

Conclusion

Creeping Jenny’s vigor brings both benefits and risks in the garden. With knowledge of its habits and proactive management, you can prevent this aggressive grower from dominating your landscape. Careful siting, competition from other plants, and persistent pruning are key to keeping creeping Jenny in check among your other flora.