Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is possibly best known as a garden plant used as ground cover especially in damp soil near ponds. As its name implies it is a rather prostrate plant rather than an upright one. It has attractive five-petalled yellow flowers with glossy heart-shaped leaves. It can spread rapidly in the right conditions and in some places it is considered an invasive weed!.
Although occasionally seen in the wild as a garden escape it is also a native flower and is found mainly in damp woodland, usually where a bare path is prone to puddling. There is a similar plant which can easily cause confusion; yellow pimpernel has a smaller flower and has more pointed leaves.
Nummularia means 'like a coin' and the plant is also known in some places as moneywort as well as variations on a financial theme such herb twopence! I am afraid the resemblance to a coin is lost on me, I cannot see it!
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