Pachyphragma macrophylla -

Family:	Cruciferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Width:	1
Synonyms:	Thlaspi macrophyllum
Range:	W. Asia - N.E. Turkey to W. Caucasus. Naturalized in Britain.

Pachyphragma macrophylla () is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 7.
Pachyphragma macrophylla will flower in September -October. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Pachyphragma macrophylla will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Pachyphragma macrophylla prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Pachyphragma macrophylla can grow in full or semi shaded areas.

Wet beech forests to elecations of 1900 metres in Turkey[187]

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds

Cultivation Details

Requires a leafy soil and a damp shady position[187, 200]. Another report says that it succeeds in dry soils and, once established, tolerates drought[190]. Succeeds in heavy clays[200]. Very shade tolerant[200]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[188]. Possibly hardy to about -15°c[187, 200]. Plants have persistent basal rosettes[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
It would be worthwhile trying out the leaves of this species for edibility. They are almost certainly not poisonous[K].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a greenhouse[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[200]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Basal cuttings in late spring[200]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

An excellent weed-smothering ground cover plant for shady areas[200]. The plants have persistent basal rosettes but only achieve full ground cover from mid or late spring until early winter each year[200].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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