Hairy Bittercress
Cardamine hirsuta
Also listed as Crucifera cardamine, Ghinia hirsuta
Also known as Shotweed, Flickweed, Common Bittercress
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A low-growing winter annual or cool-season biennial with small white four-petaled flowers and hairy foliage. Often considered a weed, it self-seeds readily and spreads quickly in moist, shaded areas.
Why grow it
Hairy bittercress establishes quickly in cool-season gardens and provides early spring forage or salad greens before most cultivated brassicas mature. Its small white flowers attract early pollinators when few other plants are blooming. Compared to cultivated cresses, it tolerates shade and poor soil better, making it useful for underutilized garden corners, though it lacks the flavor refinement of intentionally bred salad varieties.
Watch out for
The plant's aggressive self-seeding means seedlings will appear in subsequent seasons if flowers are allowed to mature and disperse. In containers or densely planted beds, frequent volunteer seedlings may require regular removal to prevent competition with slower-growing neighbors. Its preference for moist conditions can lead to dense populations in poorly drained soil.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing winter annual or cool-season biennial with small white four-petaled flowers and hairy foliage. Often considered a weed, it self-seeds readily and spreads quickly in moist, shaded areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Hairy Bittercress grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Hairy bittercress establishes quickly in cool-season gardens and provides early spring forage or salad greens before most cultivated brassicas mature. Its small white flowers attract early pollinators when few other plants are blooming. Compared to cultivated cresses, it tolerates shade and poor soil better, making it useful for underutilized garden corners, though it lacks the flavor refinement of intentionally bred salad varieties.
Watch out for
The plant's aggressive self-seeding means seedlings will appear in subsequent seasons if flowers are allowed to mature and disperse. In containers or densely planted beds, frequent volunteer seedlings may require regular removal to prevent competition with slower-growing neighbors. Its preference for moist conditions can lead to dense populations in poorly drained soil.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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