Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Pachyphragma macrophyllum
Caucasian Penny-Cress
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Height
- 12 to 18 in
- Width
- 18 to 24 in
- Flower color
- White with pale green centers
- Foliage color
- Medium to dark green, large heart-shaped leaves forming a dense basal mound
- Bloom time
- Early to mid spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture
- Maintenance
- Low, remove spent flower stems after blooming and tidy old foliage as needed
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Bees and other early-season pollinators
About this plant
Pachyphragma macrophyllum produces airy clusters of small white flowers with soft green centers, held above a mound of broad, heart-shaped leaves. The foliage has a gently quilted texture with scalloped edges and emerges early, forming a bold green presence in shaded areas that remains attractive well beyond flowering.
Blooming in mid to late spring, this species is native to woodland regions of the Caucasus and northeastern Turkey. It settles naturally into woodland gardens, shaded borders, and informal plantings, where the luminous flowers and expansive foliage provide lasting structure and a calm seasonal flow.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens Gardens · Under Trees · Pollinator Gardens · Borders
Companion plants
Trilliums · Leucothoes · Primroses · Epimediums · Ferns · Rodgersias
Design tip
Plant this bold woodland perennial beneath deciduous trees where its broad foliage can create a lush foundation after spring flowering. Layer contrasting leaf shapes, evergreen structure, and repeating drifts to develop a natural woodland planting with depth, texture, and graceful seasonal progression.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
