Practical
Plants

Barbarea verna

Land Cress

a biennial member of the Barbarea genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.25 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Bees, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Bees, Beetles, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw, cooked or used as a seasoning[1][4][7][8][10]. A hot, spicy watercress flavour, they are delicious in salads[3][6]. Leaves can be obtained throughout the year if autumn-sown plants are given a light protection in winter[1]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[9][10][11][3]. The seed can be sprouted and added to salads etc[3].

Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Environment

Range
S.W. Europe. Naturalized in Britain[2].
Habitat
Waste and cultivated ground.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring to September in situ at 3-weekly intervals to provide a succession of leaves. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in sun or shade in a moist well-drained soil,[5] growing well on a north facing wall[7][10]. The summer crop is best if it is given some shade whilst the winter crop succeeds in sunny positions[1][5]. Land cress is often cultivated as a salad plant, when it is usually treated as an annual[9]. It can supply leaves all year round from successional sowings[1]. In hot weather plants soon run to seed unless they are kept shaded and moist[3]. The leaves taste much hotter in the summer[K]. Plants usually self-sow freely when growing in a suitable position[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩

  7. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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