1 / 3

Key characteristics

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

Groundcovers

Pachyphragma macrophyllum

Caucasian Penny-Cress

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.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate moisture

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Find this plant

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.