Pachyphragma macrophyllum

Caucasian Pennycress Brassicaceae

A brassica that has abandoned the cabbage patch in favour of becoming a rather elegant woodland perennial. Pachyphragma macrophyllum forms handsome clumps of large, rounded to heart-shaped, glossy green leaves, providing excellent groundcover in shade.

In early spring, slender stems rise above the foliage carrying loose clouds of small, pure-white, four-petalled flowers. The display can be remarkably generous, with the flowers appearing almost as a white mist above the leaves. Flattened seed pods follow, typical of the Brassicaceae.

Native to the Caucasus, northern Turkey and adjoining regions, it grows in moist, shaded woodland and mountain habitats, making it particularly well suited to the British woodland garden.

And, being a brassica, it has not entirely forgotten its culinary ancestry. The young leaves and shoots are edible, with a mild, slightly peppery flavour reminiscent of watercress or other woodland brassicas. They can be eaten raw when young or cooked as a green. The flavour becomes stronger as the plant matures, so harvesting the tender spring growth is preferable. As with any wild or garden brassica, it is best treated as an occasional vegetable rather than a staple crop.

A particularly useful evergreen or semi-evergreen groundcover, it spreads steadily without becoming aggressively invasive. Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive soil in partial or full shade.

Height: 30–45cm
Spread: 45–60cm
Flowering: March–May
Hardiness: H5, approximately -15 to -10°C
Position: Partial shade to shade
Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained
Habit: Evergreen/semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennial
Uses: Ornamental groundcover; edible young leaves and shoots
Special feature: Large glossy foliage and clouds of white spring flowers