Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping-jenny
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Myrsinaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping-jenny) is a non-native California herb in the Myrsinaceae family, recognized by key features: creeping stems rooting at nodes, large yellow flowers, limited Sierra Nevada range.
Creeping-jenny is a naturalized perennial herb found in northern Sierra Nevada counties including Folsom and Plumas County in moist meadows at elevations around 1,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with 5 ovate petals 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with creeping stems 20 to 50 centimeters long that often root at the nodes, it spreads horizontally across the ground. Its opposite leaves are ovate to nearly round, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long with distinct petioles. The plant rarely produces fruit, with seed capsules that are slightly ovoid and smaller than the flower's calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features: creeping stems rooting at nodes, large yellow flowers, limited Sierra Nevada range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows
Elevation: +- 1000 m.
Outside California: eastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Lysimachia nummularia blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Modiola: Lysimachia has stamens opposite petals; Modiola has stamens fused in a central column.; vs Euphorbia: Lysimachia has true petals; spurge has petal-like bracts around flower clusters and milky sap.; vs Honckenya: Lysimachia has stamens opposite petals; sandwort has stamens alternating with petals.; vs Erythranthe: Lysimachia has radially symmetric flowers; monkeyflower has bilateral tubular flowers.; vs Veronica: Lysimachia has 5 petals and stamens opposite petals; speedwell has 4 petals and 2 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lysimachia nummularia native to California?
No. Lysimachia nummularia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lysimachia nummularia bloom?
Lysimachia nummularia blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Lysimachia nummularia belong to?
Lysimachia nummularia is in the Myrsinaceae family, genus Lysimachia.
What habitat does Lysimachia nummularia grow in?
Lysimachia nummularia grows in Moist meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.