Practical
Plants

Barbarea vulgaris

Yellow Rocket

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.35 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Bees, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Bees, Beetles, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

There is a report that ingestion of the leaves can lead to kidney malfunction[9].

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - raw or cooked like spinach[6][15][12][13][14][16]. A hot cress-like flavour[5]. Young leaves are chopped up finely and added to salads, older leaves can be used as a potherb but they are rather strong and are best cooked in one or two changes of water[5]. The leaves are available all year round, even in the winter, especially if the weather is mild[16][4]. To increase the productivity of the plants, remove the flowering stems as they appear (they can be eaten like the leaves[K]) and pick the outer leaves as the plant regrows[11]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young flowering stems - harvested before the flowers open and cooked like broccoli[5].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The leaves are vulnerary and have been used as a poultice for treating wounds[8][10]. A tea made from the leaves is appetizer, antiscorbutic and diuretic[9].

Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Asia.
Habitat
Moist places, roadsides, stream banks and hedges[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light 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 or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks. Division in spring. his plant is a short-lived perennial, and also usually self-sows freely, so we have not found division to be worthwhile.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in sun or shade in a moist well-drained soil[1][3]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.5. The plant can continue to grow all winter, especially if the weather is mild[5]. A short-lived perennial[1], though plants usually self-sow freely when in a suitable position[K]. There is at least one named form, developed for its ornamental value. 'Variegata' has variegated leaves and grows less strongly than the type[5]. A good bee plant[2].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩

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

  8. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  9. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  10. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  12. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  15. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

  16. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2

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