Moneywort – Creeping Jenny: Aquarium Background Plants

The Moneywort (Creeping Jenny) is also known under the names:

• Lysimachia nummularia
• Lysimachia nummulari
• Herb twopence
• Twopenny grass

It is native to Europe and has a long tradition in aquaristics. This hardy plant grows creeping in the landform, but forms upright stems with round, fresh green leaves under water. Moneywort (Creeping Jenny) is ideally suited for cold water aquariums, but also for moderately tempered tanks if they are well lit.

The Moneywort (Creeping Jenny) is often used on the edge of the pond as a ground cover, but it can also be used in an aquarium.

Just like the Java fern, the Moneywort (Creeping Jenny) is very popular for aquariums.

The plant is generally not considered to be particularly demanding and require some attention and considerations during cultivation.

Although there are other species of Lysimachia, only Lysimachia nummularia is cultivated as an aquarium plant.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Quick facts

Popular names:  Lysimachia nummularia, Lysimachia nummulari, Herb twopence, Twopenny grass

Full botanical name: Lysimáchia nummulária L.

Difficulty: easy

Use: background, middle ground, street (Holland style), foreground group

Growth: medium

Temperature tolerance: 4 – 30 ° C

Total water hardness: 0 – 30 ° dGH

Propagation: cuttings

Can grow immersed? Yes

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Characteristics

The Moneywort has long stalks with many small leaves at small intervals.

The stems of the Creeping Jenny can also become quite long in the aquarium: Well over 30 centimeters seem quite possible, although the plant also grows quite quickly.

The stems have small leaves grow that grow along the entire stem which branch out creating a dense background – hence the nickname “Creeping Jenny”.

The leaves have a beautiful, intense green color, which adds color to the aquarium.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): In the Aquarium

Since the Moneywort can grow quite quickly and expansively in the aquarium, you should choose this plant for the background. The moneywort plant grows upwards and remains relatively narrow in width. These growth characteristics are of course ideal for the background planting in an aquarium.

In a large aquarium, use in the middle distance is sometimes conceivable.

For best results, plant several plants in a group to create a dense green cover. If the Moneywort has spread too much or branched out, it can be thinned out relatively easily in the aquarium.

• It should never be more than 25 degrees so that the plant can develop nicely and thrive in the aquarium.
• It is also important to ensure that the plant receives sufficient light in an aquarium.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Planting

When planting, a distance of 30 centimeters or more to other plants should be maintained – the Moneywort grows strongly in width. Usually no more than 12 to 14 plants are planted per square meter.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Maintenance

Annual pruning is advisable in order to slow down the pennies, which spread freely, and to prevent them from overgrowing other plants in the bed. Shorten the long runners a little in autumn.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Natural thinning

In the case of Creeping Jenny, the division serves less to multiply or rejuvenate the perennial – in this way the stands can be thinned out and reduced in a natural way.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Varieties

The gold Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) is at least as popular as the species and just as widespread. As the name suggests, its foliage is attractively colored yellow. The golden pennywort is a little less vigorous than the species, but like this one cannot tolerate direct sun. The variety is often used as a decorative, hanging leaf ornament for the balcony and terrace – or, as already mentioned, as a houseplant. The ‘Goldilocks’ variety has a similar yellow foliage.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Multiplication

In addition to thinning, it is also possible to sow the Moneywort in order to multiply the perennial.

Moneywort (Creeping Jenny): Diseases and pests

There are no known diseases or pests that easily affect the Moneywort. Even snails seem to avoid it as much as possible.