Bittercress Cardamine
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Bittercress:
Previously known as:
- Dentaria
- Phonetic Spelling
- kar-DA-mih-nee
- Description
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This genus contains over 200 species of annual and perennial plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) and are native to nearly everywhere in the world. They are known as bittercresses and toothworts and are considered both a weed and an edible plant. The genus name is derived from the Greek kardaminē meaning water cress and from kardamon meaning pepper grass.
These plants grow in a variety of conditions and vary in size depending on the species. Most have edible roots.
Leaves can be small to medium and simple, pinnate or bipinnate. They have both a basal rosette and stem leaves. Blooms are generally in clusters of white, pink or purple flowers.
Weedy species can be difficult to control. Others are wildflowers and are considered non-invasive.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Plants often harbor whitefly and mites and have been implicated as alternative hosts for some diseases. Powdery mildew, downy mildew and rust are minor issues. It is listed as an invasive species in some parts of the US including HI and GA.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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C. concatenata
- C. oligosperma
Native to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and eastward to the Rocky Mountains - C. pensylvanica
Pennsylvania bitter-cress is native to New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Ham - C. pratensis
Called the cuckoo flower, native to Canada,Minnesota, Illinois south to Virginia
Cut-leaf toothwort C. corymbosa
New Zealand bittercress C. diphylla
Two-leaf toothwort C. hirsuta
Hairy bittercress - C. oligosperma
- C. concatenata, C. corymbosa, C. diphylla, C. hirsuta, C. oligosperma, C. pensylvanica, C. pratensis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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C. concatenata
- C. oligosperma
Native to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and eastward to the Rocky Mountains - C. pensylvanica
Pennsylvania bitter-cress is native to New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Ham - C. pratensis
Called the cuckoo flower, native to Canada,Minnesota, Illinois south to Virginia
Cut-leaf toothwort C. corymbosa
New Zealand bittercress C. diphylla
Two-leaf toothwort C. hirsuta
Hairy bittercress - C. oligosperma
- C. concatenata, C. corymbosa, C. diphylla, C. hirsuta, C. oligosperma, C. pensylvanica, C. pratensis
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cardamine
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Many species are used medicinally
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Most of the world except the Antarctic
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Cardamine support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Scaphandrena) arabis.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- The foliage of Cardamine pratensis are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are small, cigar-shaped pods that dry and split to reveal seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers can be tiny to small in loose clusters and are white, pink or purple
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Plants form a basal rosette of leaves and have a few stem leaves that are smaller. Shape varies per species. They can be simple to compound.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Problems:
- Weedy
