Wintercress Barbarea orthoceras
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wintercress:
- Phonetic Spelling
- bar-BAR-ree-uh or-tho-SAIR-as
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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American Yellow Rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial flowering herb in the mustard family native to western North America and Asia and found naturally on the banks of streams, swamps, wetland or riparian areas or forests. It has bright golden yellow flowers and erect slender green seed pods. 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 and produces a stiff, branching stem to heights between 4 and 24 inches. The leaves are about 8 inches long and oval in shape with several rounded lobes toward the end. The flower is a spike or cluster of bright yellow flowers at the tip of each stem branch. 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 which can make it difficult to transplant once mature. This plant spreads by reseeding itself, and occasionally forms colonies.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- 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:
- Asia, Labrador to Alaska and south to California
- Distribution:
- North America and Northeast Asia
- 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:
- Herb
- 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:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Slender, erect, straight or slightly curved pods, up to 2 inches long, with many tiny oval oblong seeds.
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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" wide 4 petaled yellow flowers found in rounded to cylindrical groups in leaf axils reaching 1 1/2" across. 4 green-yellow sepals surround the flower. Flowers form from the tip and continue flowering from May-July.
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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
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Basal, alternate leaves are deeply lobed with a deep tip lobe and 1-4 pairs of smaller lobes along the petiole. The margin can be lobed or with a few coarse teeth. Basal leaves can be up to 2 1/2" long and up to 1" wide but they get smaller as they ascend the stem.
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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:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
