Plant profile
Lysimachia 'Golden Bells'
Lysimachia congestiflora 'Golden Bells'
Also known as Golden Bells, Creeping Jenny 'Golden Bells'.
Lysimachia 'Golden Bells' is a low spreading perennial with bright green-gold foliage and yellow flowers. It works well as a groundcover or trailing plant.
- Grows well in
- Subtropical, Temperate, Cool / mountains, Mediterranean
- Lifecycle
- Low spreading evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial
- Light
- Part shade, Full sun
- Mature size
- Usually 10–20 cm high and 40–60 cm wide
- Spacing
- About 30–45 cm apart
- Growth habit
- Low creeping groundcover with trailing stems
- Native range
- Cultivar of Lysimachia congestiflora, a species native from Nepal through China to northern mainland South-East Asia
- Natural habitat
- Temperate woodland edges, grassy slopes and moist open ground in its parent species’ native range.
When to plant
Tropical
March–June
Subtropical
March–June, September–November
Temperate
March–May, August–October
Cool / mountain
September–November
Mediterranean
March–May, August–October
Plant in autumn or spring in mild climates; in subtropical gardens, use the cooler months.
Planting
Plant into moist, free-draining soil and allow room for stems to spread. It also grows well over the edge of a pot.
Position and light
Part shade is ideal in hot climates. More sun gives stronger colour where moisture is reliable.
Soil
Moist, free-draining soil with organic matter; it also grows well in a hanging basket or pot mix that is kept from drying out completely.
Watering
Keep moisture reasonably even. Dry conditions slow spread and can scorch foliage, and potted plants may need daily watering in hot weather.
Feeding
A light spring feed is enough.
Pruning
Trim wandering stems whenever they spread beyond the area you want. Cut old growth back to fresh shoots. Pinching or trimming the tips encourages more side shoots and a fuller mat, which is useful in pots where long stems can otherwise become sparse. In hot weather, trim lightly rather than cutting hard while the plant is already heat-stressed.
Propagation
Stem cuttings and division root easily.
Common problems
Snails and slugs may chew new growth. Hot dry sites can burn the foliage, and full sun in inland districts can bleach the gold colour to pale green.
Worth knowing
It roots easily as it spreads, so it is simple to divide and move. Trim the edges when it starts travelling farther than you want. It is a selected golden-leaved form grown for foliage colour rather than its small yellow flowers, and is popular as a trailing edge plant in mixed pots and hanging baskets.
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