Perfoliate pennycress (Noccaea perfoliata)
Care, watering, light and tips for Perfoliate pennycress on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Perfoliate pennycress
Noccaea perfoliata, commonly known as Thoroughwort Pennycress, is a small annual plant from the Brassicaceae family, valued for its perfoliate leaves that appear to pierce the stem and its tiny white flowers. It's a subtle yet interesting plant for rock gardens, path edges, or as part of a wild meadow, adding a touch of delicacy. Its unique leaf structure makes it stand out in low-maintenance compositions.
Native range
Europe and Western Asia
Care tips
It thrives in full sun or light partial shade for optimal growth, preferring well-drained soils, even poor or calcareous ones. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings, as it is quite drought-tolerant once established. Avoid excessive soil moisture, which can lead to root rot, and it doesn't require frequent fertilization. This is a low-maintenance plant that readily self-seeds.
How to save a dying Perfoliate pennycress
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or whitish leaves, soft and drooping stems, stunted growth, rot at the base.
- First aid
- Replant in well-drained soil, reduce watering, ensure good ventilation and moderate sun. Prune damaged parts.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and poor drainage are lethal. Also total shade and prolonged extreme heat.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if rot hasn't spread throughout the root. Act quickly at the first sign of water stress.