Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia): A Low-Maintenance Beauty for Your Aquarium

Stem plants are the most abundantly used variety of aquatic plants in planted aquariums. Rotala, Ludwigia, Cabomba, and Myriophyllum are names very common to any planted aquarium enthusiast. While they are beautiful and much sought after, they often come with varying degrees of maintenance overheads. So, wouldn’t it be great to have a stem plant that doesn’t need frequent trimming, doesn’t shed its leaves easily, stays compact, and is still attractive? If you agree, look no further than Lysimachia nummularia, commonly known as Creeping Jenny.

Creeping Jenny: A Versatile and Vibrant Option

Native to Europe, Creeping Jenny is commonly grown as ground cover in gardens but has found its way into the world of aquatic plants due to its aesthetic appeal and adaptability. Its coin-shaped, bright green leaves spread quickly, adding a lush, cascading effect to aquascapes. Whether planted underwater or grown near water sources in containers, it thrives in moist conditions and under moderate light, creating a calming, green backdrop for any tank. It is very hardy and has been known to survive even at -15 degree centigrade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysimachia_nummularia).

Thriving Conditions for Creeping Jenny in Aquariums

When submerged in aquariums, Creeping Jenny performs best in cool water temperatures ranging from 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F), with soft to neutral water (pH 6.0–7.5). It does particularly well under moderate to high lighting, which helps it maintain its vibrant, lush appearance. Unlike many other stem plants that require frequent pruning, Creeping Jenny remains compact and manageable with just occasional trimming to maintain its shape. This plant is best suited for midground or background placement.

Our experience with Creeping Jenny at our gallery (Ripples)

Here are the details of the aquarium where we had planted Creeping Jenny.

Size – 120 cm (4ft) (L) by 45 cm (18 inches) (W) by 60 cm (24 inches) (H)

Substrate – ADA Amazonia ver 2.0 and ADA Power Sand

Fertilizer – ADA Green Brighty Series

Lights – ADA Solar RGB kept on for about 8 hours

CO2 – using pressurised cylinders

Water temperature – 25 degree centigrade

Water  pH around 7 and TDS between 50 to 100 ppm

• Aquarium was quite a deep one but even then with lighting available near substrate layer the plant maintained it’s compact shape
• It’s growth was slow, but they didn’t melt or lose their leaves
• While some articles in Internet talks about creeping jenny actually crawling along the soil surface but we didn’t notice that happening in our aquarium

As growth was slow so not much trimming was necessary. Whenever trimming was done the plant took the trimming and didn’t show any signs of post trimming stress like blackening of stems etc. New leaves emerged soon and had the overall light green colour and oval shape

Why Choose Creeping Jenny for Your Aquarium?

In conclusion, if you’re looking for an easy-to-maintain, attractive stem plant, Lysimachia nummularia is a fantastic choice. Its adaptability to both aquariums and gardens, coupled with its ability to thrive under various conditions, makes it a standout plant. Creeping Jenny’s vibrant green foliage, low maintenance requirements, and versatility make it perfect for aquarists seeking to enhance their aquascapes without the heavy upkeep associated with other popular stem plants. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned hobbyist, this plant will add both beauty and function to your aquatic environment.

Give Creeping Jenny a try, and watch it transform your aquascape into a lush, green paradise!