Thlaspi arvense L.
Bastard Cress
Field penny-cress is an erect, hairless annual crucifer growing up to around 60cm, with a faintly unpleasant smell when crushed. It bears loose spikes of small white, four-petalled flowers, usually from May to July, but its most recognisable feature comes later: flat, almost circular seed pods, broadly winged with a notch at the top, which look just like little coins, hence the name.
About
Field penny-cress is an erect, hairless annual crucifer growing up to around 60cm, with a faintly unpleasant smell when crushed. It bears loose spikes of small white, four-petalled flowers, usually from May to July, but its most recognisable feature comes later: flat, almost circular seed pods, broadly winged with a notch at the top, which look just like little coins, hence the name. In the British Isles it is treated as an archaeophyte, an ancient introduction, and remains fairly widespread.
It is a plant of cultivated and disturbed ground, turning up on arable fields, allotments, gardens, roadsides and waste places in full sun. Once a common cornfield companion, it has declined with intensive agriculture. Pollinator value is modest, with the flowers visited by small insects. With its papery, coin-shaped pods adding seasonal interest, it suits cornfield annual and arable conservation seed mixes on open, fertile soils.
Also known as
Common Penny-Cress · Fanw · Fanweed · Field Penny-cress · Field Pennycress
Synonyms
Crucifera thaspi · Crucifera thlaspi · Lepidium thlaspi · Teruncius arvense · Teruncius arvensis · Thlaspi arvense sinuatum · Thlaspi baicalense · Thlaspi collinum · Thlaspi latifolium · Thlaspi lutescens
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.