Wintercress Barbarea orthoceras
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wintercress:
- Phonetic Spelling
- bar-BAR-ree-uh or-tho-SAIR-as
- Description
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American Yellow Rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial flowering herb in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) native to western North America and found naturally on the banks of streams, swamps, wetland or riparian areas or forests. It is also found in scattered locations in MI, ME and NH. The genus name Barbarea derives from Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, as this plant in the past was used to soothe the wounds caused by explosions.
American Yellow Rocket grows best in moist conditions with sun or light shade in slightly acidic, well-drained soil. It does well in rocky or gravelly soils. It will grow 1-3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Propagation is by seeds.
The small golden yellow flowers occur in small clusters at the end of stems from May to June. The basal leaves are larger than the stem leaves. The fruit is straight and narrow up to 2 inches long. The leaves can be eaten in moderation raw or cooked, and the roots can have a horseradish-like flavor. The plant has a stout taproot making it difficult to transplant once mature.
Use this plant in a rock, native, pollinator or edible garden. It will not do well in the southeast.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: See pests of crucifers ti the left.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Barbarea
- Species:
- orthoceras
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western and mid-western USA
- Distribution:
- USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , NH , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WI , WY Canada: NB
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies, skippers, and moths are known to feed on this plant.
- Edibility:
- The leaves are edible, raw or cooked, with a hot, cress-like flavor. There is some evidence that it can impact kidney function.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The slender pods are up to 2 inches long and dry to reveal seeds. They can be straight or curved and erect to ascending.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/4 inch wide 4 petaled yellow flowers have 4 greenish-yellow sepals and grow in small clusters at the tips of branches and also in leaf axils. Blooms May to June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Lobed
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves are alternate and deeply lobed. They grow up to 2.5 inches long and 1 inch wide. The Leaves get small as they ascend the stem. Margins are lobed, sometimes wavy and may have a few teeth or be entire.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Purple-green streaks or stripes, single or multiple from the base of the plant, smooth, ridged or angled.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
