Cardamine hirsuta L.
Bittercress
Hairy bittercress is a native annual crucifer, small but prolific, forming a neat basal rosette of pinnate leaves with rounded leaflets and a slightly hairy texture. Slim flowering stems carry loose heads of tiny white, four-petalled flowers, which can appear from late winter right through to late autumn and even in mild spells of winter.
About
Hairy bittercress is a native annual crucifer, small but prolific, forming a neat basal rosette of pinnate leaves with rounded leaflets and a slightly hairy texture. Slim flowering stems carry loose heads of tiny white, four-petalled flowers, which can appear from late winter right through to late autumn and even in mild spells of winter. As the seed pods (slender siliques) ripen they become explosive, flinging their seed several feet at the lightest touch, which is why it spreads so readily through gardens, pots and nursery stock.
It colonises open, recently disturbed and often damp ground, including borders, paths, walls and waste places, in sun or light shade. Quick to germinate and fast through several generations in a year, it is chiefly known as a garden weed, though the peppery young leaves are edible in salads and the early flowers offer a little forage for emerging insects. It is a coloniser rather than a sown wildflower.
Also known as
Common Bittercress · Flickweed · Hairy Bitter-cress · Hairy Bittercress · hoary bittercress
Synonyms
Arabis heterophylla · Cardamine angulata · Cardamine angulata alba · Cardamine borbonica · Cardamine fagetina · Cardamine hirsuta apetala · Cardamine hirsuta coerulescens · Cardamine hirsuta foliosa · Cardamine hirsuta glabra · Cardamine hirsuta grandiflora · Cardamine hirsuta litoralis
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.