Description
Golden Moneywort
Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia ‘aurea’
Golden Moneywort is a creeping perennial plant, reaching 10cm high and spreading several meters in ideal conditions. The small golden coloured leaves are rounded and held in opposite positions on the trailing stems. The yellow cup shaped flowers are about 2cm in diameter and appear in summer. The plant spread by rhizomes and creates a prostrate plant that can adapt to many garden scenarios, including use as a bedding groundcover plant, in a rockery, trailing over walls and even in places where there may be some foot traffic.
Golden Moneywort is known botanically as Lysimachia nummularia and belongs to the Primulaceae family. It is native to Europe and naturalized in the United States, but there many plants from the same Genus all over the world. The species name refers to Greek word for ‘like a coin’ which describes the yellow flower. Other names include Creeping Jenny, Golden Creeping Jenny or Moneywort ‘Aurea’.
Growing Conditions
Golden Moneywort prefers to grow in full sun to part shade. When growing in full sun the leaf colour is at its best. If leaves revert to the green of the parent plant remove them, so they do not take over. Soil should be fertile, moist and free draining, but a range of soil types may be acceptable. This plant can tolerate some dampness, so it may be an option in boggy areas when other groundcovers would not be suitable. It should not be left to dry out over the summer months, especially in a full sun position. Dry conditions and poor soil will severely restrict the ability of Moneywort to spread as a groundcover, but it can adapt to these conditions when required. It is also quite tolerant of cold winter conditions. This fast growing creeper can be propagated by seed and by dividing the plant in spring and autumn. A small section with roots attached will easily grow into a new clump, so it can sometimes be invasive. However, the golden leaved plant is less vigorous than the green leaved parent. It can also grow in containers and also tolerates some foot traffic.
Medicinal Uses
Moneywort is not commonly used today, but has a history of use in herbalism for healing wounds by bruising the leaves and applying them to the wounds. It is considered diuretic, astringent, and has been used to treat diarrhoea and internal bleeding. It has use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating gallstones, bladder stones and gout. It contains phenolic acids.
