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Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

Creeping Jenny is a naturalised plant in parts of south-eastern Australia and has been recorded at the Apsley River in New South Wales. Its low, spreading growth and ability to root along stems make it a potential weed of wet areas.

Key facts

Type: Weed, herb.

Native to: Eurasia.

Established in: NSW, VIC, TAS, SA.

Other names: Moneywort, Creeping Loosestrife, Wandering Jenny, Creeping Penny.

Best time to act: Survey for it when yellow flowers make it easier to spot, mostly from November to February and sometimes through April, and treat promptly when found.

Identification

  • A creeping perennial herb with prostrate stems that can grow to 40 cm or more and root at the nodes.
  • Leaves are opposite, broadly oval to round, usually 10–25 mm long, and have smooth edges.
  • Flowers are solitary in leaf axils, yellow, and about 10–15 mm long.
  • Flowering is mostly in summer, usually November to February and sometimes into April.
  • The fruit is a small, round capsule with many seeds.
  • Look-alike: Other low-growing plants may have rounded leaves, but Creeping Jenny has opposite leaves, creeping stems that root at the nodes, and solitary yellow flowers.

Where it grows

In Australia it has been recorded in north-east Tasmania, central-south Victoria and at the Apsley River in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, including on basalt in a wet river bed.

Why it matters

  • It is considered to have potential to become a problem weed.
  • Its creeping, node-rooting stems can spread across damp ground and river margins.
  • Where it forms dense growth, it can compete with other low-growing plants for space.

How it spreads

  • Stems can root at their nodes, allowing the plant to spread as it grows.
  • Stem fragments that are moved to suitable damp sites may establish new plants.
  • The capsules contain many seeds, providing another means of reproduction.

Control options

  • For small infestations, carefully remove the whole plant, including rooted stem sections, and contain the material so fragments are not moved to new sites.
  • Use only herbicides registered for the target plant and site, and follow the product label; near water, use only products approved for aquatic or riparian situations.
  • Avoid spreading plant fragments or contaminated soil during removal, and check treated areas regularly for regrowth and new seedlings.
  • Report suspected new infestations to the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency for advice.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean boots, tools and machinery after working in an infestation, and contain plant fragments so they are not carried to other sites.
  • Avoid moving contaminated soil or water from infested areas.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources