Pachyphragma macrophyllum
pachyphragma
I truly wish this plant had a common name, but apparently it does not. What it does have, however, is three solid seasons of subdued attractiveness in the woodland garden. So what is this plant, you ask?
Pachyphragma macrophyllum is a nearly evergreen perennial. It is not a showy top-billing plant, but rather nicely fills a supporting role under larger shrubs or at the edge of a path. In the back of Elizabeth Lawrence’s garden—what she called “our woods”—the mid-green, glabrous cordate leaves blend effortlessly with neighboring trillium, epimedium, Christmas fern and ivy-leaved cyclamen. Starting in late February, the basal rosette gives rise to 10-18” stems topped with pure white candytuft-like blooms. Native to Turkey and Iran, pachyphragma tolerates drier conditions in part shade to shade. I call it a solid three-season plant because it may go semi-dormant in the worst of our summer heat.
I found it at Far Reaches Farm and planted it in the garden in late 2012. Since then, pachyphragma has impressed me with its need of … well, nothing at all. It has required no maintenance whatsoever. It hasn’t been fussy about soil. Elizabeth’s garden is fast-draining, and the woodland area stays quite dry regardless of how much I may water.
I expected some kind of pouting from the temperature roller coaster of our winters, but it sails through completely unscathed. Even the recent deep-dive into the low 20s didn’t deter it… it continues to bloom beautifully. I have noticed a few seedlings scattered about (and I mean no more than a handful in 10 years), for which I have been thankful.
Pachyphragma has super street cred; Beth Chatto listed it among her top favorite woodland plants! So, whatever you want to call it, Pachyphragma macrophyllum is a garden-worthy gem that’s definitely worth knowing and growing.