Practical
Plants

Cardamine amara

Large Bittercress

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves - raw[6][8][1]. A hot cress-like flavour[4], nice in small quantities in a salad and available all year round in most years[K]. A somewhat bitter flavour[9].

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.

Antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant[2].

Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Stimulant

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 64° N., east to the Balkans and W. Asia.
Habitat
By springs, in fens and on streamsides, preferring a peaty soil[3]. Often found in trickling water[5]. Often the dominant ground flora in alder woods with moving damp water[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow outdoors in situ in a shady position in April.

Cultivation

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

Easily grown in most moist soils[5]. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade[7]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[5]. An invasive plant spreading freely by self-sowing, it is best suited to the wild garden[5]. A polymorphic species[2].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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