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bitter wintercress

Barbarea vulgaris

Bitter wintercress is a green plant that grows in cool weather. It has bright yellow flowers and can often be found in fields and gardens during springtime.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The bitter wintercress has clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers with four petals, blooming on upright, ridged stems. Its dark green, glossy leaves form a rosette at the base, while upper leaves are smaller and more streamlined.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusBarbarea
bitter wintercress
flowering trait badgebiennial trait badgespring_blooming trait badgecold_hardy trait badge
bitter wintercress

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Bitter wintercress helps provide early food for bees when other flowers haven't bloomed yet.

It's a wild cousin to popular veggies like cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts!

Its leaves taste less bitter after a frost, making them more enjoyable to eat!

This resilient plant can sprout from tiny seeds even if they've been buried for years!

Special abilities

Ability

Frost Fighter

Bitter wintercress can grow even in chilly weather, thanks to special compounds that protect its cells from frost.

Ability

Bug Blocker

This plant has a natural defense system, producing bitter chemicals that deter many hungry insect pests.

Ability

Speedy Sprouter

Bitter wintercress quickly establishes itself in new areas, using numerous seeds to spread widely and fast.

Measurements & details

Height
30-90 cm
Spread
15-45 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

an important early spring pollinator.

eaten by

Small White butterfly

Pieris rapae

Its caterpillars feed on the leaves.

eaten by

Diamondback moth

Plutella xylostella

Larvae can be a pest of the leaves.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or eating any plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is bitter wintercress?

30-90 cm

How wide does bitter wintercress spread?

15-45 cm

How big are the flowers on bitter wintercress?

0.5-1 cm

When does bitter wintercress bloom?

Spring to early summer

Is bitter wintercress edible?

Yes

Is bitter wintercress toxic?

None

What is bitter wintercress's lifecycle?

Biennial

How is bitter wintercress pollinated?

Insect

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