Pachyphragma macrophyllum

Pachyphragma macrophyllum belongs to Brassicaceae, the mustard family. It is a herbaceous perennial: a non-woody plant that lives for years. It comes from eastern Türkiye to the Caucasus. Its names include Caucasus penny-cress and large-leaved pachyphragma. It grows in climates with mild, not extreme, heat and cold. Its leafy clumps form low mounds, not tall, woody growth. Gardeners use it to cover ground and fill shaded borders.

The RHS says plants in bloom reach about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) tall. Its wider garden height range reaches 1.6 feet (0.5 metres). Clumps spread about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre) across. They take two to five years to reach full size. Round green leaves form rosettes, or rings, at the base. Each leaf has a scalloped edge. These basal leaves reach about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres) across. Smaller leaves grow on the stems. The RHS calls it deciduous, meaning it sheds its leaves. Yet some leaves at the base stay through winter.

Small white flowers rise above the leaves in flat groups. Chicago Botanic Garden lists March to April as its bloom time. This spring show suits beds and borders below taller plants. Small green fruits form once the flowers fade. They look like hearts turned upside down. Broad leaves at the base contrast with small stem leaves. This gives the clumps clear layers of leaves. Flowers and fruit add detail as the seasons change.

Choose part shade, though it grows in full shade too. The RHS advises moist soil rich in leaf matter. It should have a medium level of nutrients. Chalk, clay, loam, and sand all suit this plant. It grows in acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. The RHS lists moist sites that drain well or drain poorly. Its UK hardiness rating is H6. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 7–10. These guides rate plants for their own regions. It forms a low layer beneath trees and shrubs that shed leaves. It suits cottage and courtyard gardens, and grows beneath roses.

It needs no pruning as part of routine care. The RHS lists it for gardens that need little care. Slugs may harm it, but few other pests cause problems. The RHS reports few problems with disease, too. Sow seed in autumn to grow new plants. Split clumps in spring, or take basal softwood cuttings then. These cuttings use soft new shoots from the base. The sources give no food-use or toxicity assessment. They do not show that any part is safe to eat.