Creeping Jenny

Most people think of Creeping Jenny as a weed and work assiduously to remove all signs of it from their garden, however, it is perfect for areas where there is little or no soil, and it is hardy enough to grow in more windswept and salty conditions.

The flowers are actually quite small, about five eighths of an inch in diameter, but a carpet of bright yellow flowers and verdant green leaves is quite spectacular. It can’t be seen in these photos, but Creeping Jenny will even grow over solid rock where there are only tiny little pockets of soil, and it thrives.

Being so hardy, it requires no care at all other than, perhaps, to cut it back a bit if it spreads too far. In the dry season, it thins out, but as soon as the rains come, it spreads and flowers and is really quite delightful. An added bonus is that it is particularly attractive to a variety of butterflies and bees too.

Creeping Jenny can be found growing in abundance on and near the cliffs of the east and northern parts of the island.