Barbarea vulgaris (L.) W.T.Aiton
Bittercress
Winter-cress, sometimes called yellow rocket, is a biennial or short-lived perennial crucifer with glossy, dark green leaves that are lyre-shaped, having a large rounded end lobe and smaller side lobes. From a basal rosette it throws up branched stems topped with clusters of bright yellow, four-petalled flowers, typically from May to August.
About
Winter-cress, sometimes called yellow rocket, is a biennial or short-lived perennial crucifer with glossy, dark green leaves that are lyre-shaped, having a large rounded end lobe and smaller side lobes. From a basal rosette it throws up branched stems topped with clusters of bright yellow, four-petalled flowers, typically from May to August. It is generally treated as a British native, though some suggest it may be a very old introduction. The flat seed pods stand erect along the stem as the season advances.
It favours damp, often winter-wet ground, growing along riverbanks, ditches, roadsides, field margins, farmyards and waste places in sun or part shade, and is fairly common, especially in the south-east. As one of the earlier crucifers to bloom, it offers useful nectar and pollen to bees and other early insects, and is a larval foodplant for some butterflies. It works well in damp meadow and wetland-margin mixes.
Also known as
Common Winter-Cress · Cressy-greens · Garden Yellow Rocket · Garden Yellowrocket · Winter Cress · Winter-cress
Synonyms
Arabis barbarea · Barbarea abortiva · Barbarea altaica · Barbarea arcuata · Barbarea arcuata brachycarpa · Barbarea arcuata pinnatisecta · Barbarea arcuata pubescens · Barbarea augustana
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.