Practical
Plants

Cardamine hirsuta

Hairy Bittercress

an annual member of the Cardamine genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Self

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked[6][9][10][11][2]. A hot cress-like flavour, they are mainly used as a garnish or flavouring in salads etc[3] but are also sometimes used as a potherb[5]. The plant germinates most freely in the autumn and so leaves are usually available all winter[8].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Throughout most of the northern Hemisphere, including Britain.
Habitat
Open and cultivated ground, rocks, scree, walls etc[4].
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 spring or autumn in situ. This species needs very little encouragement and is quite capable of sowing itself, often too freely.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade[7] but it succeeds in most soils and positions[1]. A common garden weed, it can be in flower all year round if the weather is mild. It will usually self-sow very freely in cultivated soil and is found especially in pot-grown plants[K].

References

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

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  9. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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

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  11. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

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