Bloomipedia
Creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Photo: Shirley Zundell via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Creeping jenny

Lysimachia nummularia

Introduced in the lower 48

Creeping jenny is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

37states
2of our state lists
17,370U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Ohio, Vermont

Quick look

Lysimachia nummularia is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. Its common names include moneywort, creeping jenny, herb twopence and twopenny grass.

  • It belongs to the Primulaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 37 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Ohio and Vermont. NatureServe
  • In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,277 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #75 among the 109 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,048 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #84 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist

Creeping jenny gift ideas

Handmade creeping jenny gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Creeping jenny art print

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    Creeping jenny mug

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    Creeping jenny earrings

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    Creeping jenny embroidery pattern

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    Creeping jenny sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (918 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OhioIntroducedMay–July2,277
VermontIntroducedJune–July1,048

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records creeping jenny in 37 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

More Ohio flowers

Northern starflower (Lysimachia borealis)

Northern starflower

Lysimachia borealis

Native

🌼 Blooms: May–June
Fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)

Fringed loosestrife

Lysimachia ciliata

Native

🌼 Blooms: June–August
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in OH: May–July

Sources