Pennycress plots in their rosette stage will remain dormant for months under the snow and survive the extreme cold Midwest temperatures. The picture on the right is the same field 7 days after the first picture was taken after a snowfall. Pennycress can withstand snow and extreme cold (-30oF) and still provide an excellent cash crop the following year.

Pennycress plants come out of their dormant stage after the snow melts and enter their reproductive phase where they will first flower, and then set seed. These seeds are extremely oil rich with 29% - 40% oil (on average) and can be used as a source of oil for renewable diesel.