Practical
Plants

Cardaria draba

Hoary Cress

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Insects, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Insects, Self

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves and shoots - raw in salads or cooked as a potherb[5][7][1][4]. A report says that the young leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though does not give any more details[6]. In small quantities this substance is fairly harmless, and has even been recommended as having health benefits, but caution is suggested if you eat these leaves[K]. The pungent leaves are used as a seasoning[4]. The seed is used as a condiment, it is a pepper substitute[5][3][7][8][2][4].

Product or use
Condiment
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 plant is antiscorbutic[6]. The seeds have been used as a cure for flatulence and fish poison[6]. It is assumed that this report is referring to food poisoning caused by eating suspect fish[K].

Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Carminative

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia. Naturalized in Britain[3].
Habitat
A weed of arable fields, it is spreading rapidly in Britain[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
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 in situ in spring. There is very little need to encourage this plant, it is a rapidly spreading weed in Britain. Division in spring.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in a sunny position in most soils.

References

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

    ↩

  2. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  6. 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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

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