Pennycress: A Hardy Native Wildflower for Low-Maintenance Gardens
If you’re looking for a tough, no-fuss native plant that can handle challenging conditions, pennycress (Noccaea) might just be your new gardening buddy. This unassuming little wildflower has been quietly thriving across North America long before any of us picked up a trowel, and it’s ready to bring that same resilience to your garden.
What is Pennycress?
Pennycress is a native forb – essentially a non-woody flowering plant that puts all its energy into those lovely blooms rather than building up woody stems. Think of it as the gardening world’s equivalent of a reliable friend who shows up when you need them most. These plants can be annual, biennial, or perennial, giving you flexibility in how you use them in your landscape.
As a true North American native, pennycress has earned its stripes across an impressive range of territory. You’ll find various species naturally growing from Alaska down through Canada and throughout much of the lower 48 states.
Where Does Pennycress Call Home?
Pennycress has quite the geographic resume! This adaptable plant naturally occurs across Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, plus extending into Canada’s Yukon and Northwest Territories. That’s a lot of different climates and conditions – a testament to this plant’s remarkable adaptability.
Why Grow Pennycress in Your Garden?
Here’s where pennycress really shines as a garden choice:
- Low maintenance: Once established, these plants are remarkably self-sufficient
- Drought tolerant: Perfect for water-wise gardening
- Native benefits: Supports local ecosystems and wildlife
- Adaptable: Thrives in poor soils where other plants struggle
- Pollinator friendly: Small white flower clusters attract beneficial insects
Perfect Garden Spots for Pennycress
Pennycress isn’t trying to be the star of your flower border, and that’s exactly what makes it so valuable. This plant excels in:
- Rock gardens: Its compact form and drought tolerance make it ideal
- Alpine gardens: Handles challenging mountain-like conditions
- Naturalized areas: Perfect for creating low-maintenance wildflower meadows
- Difficult spots: Those challenging areas where other plants give up
Growing Conditions and Care
The beauty of pennycress lies in its simplicity. This plant typically thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8, making it suitable for most North American gardens. Here’s what it needs to be happy:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained soils (it actually prefers poor to average soil conditions)
- Water: Minimal once established – drought tolerance is its superpower
- Maintenance: Practically none – this is a plant it and forget it kind of friend
Planting and Care Tips
Getting pennycress established in your garden couldn’t be easier:
- Plant in spring after the last frost, or let it self-seed naturally
- Choose a spot with good drainage – waterlogged soil is about the only thing that bothers this plant
- Don’t amend the soil too much – pennycress actually prefers lean conditions
- Water regularly during establishment, then back off and let nature take over
- Allow some plants to go to seed if you want them to naturalize in your garden
Supporting Pollinators and Wildlife
While pennycress might not have the showiest blooms in your garden, its small white flower clusters are exactly what many beneficial insects are looking for. The plant provides nectar for small pollinators and can be part of a diverse native plant community that supports local wildlife throughout the growing season.
The Bottom Line
Pennycress might not win any beauty contests, but it’s the kind of steady, reliable plant that makes gardening easier and more sustainable. If you’re looking to add native plants to your landscape, want something that can handle tough conditions, or simply appreciate plants that know how to take care of themselves, pennycress deserves a spot in your garden. Sometimes the most valuable plants are the ones that ask for the least while giving back the most.
