Hairy Bittercress
ExplorePlants
Hairy Bittercress
cardamine hirsuta
Hairy Bittercress is a small plant with pretty white flowers that bloom in the spring. It's fun to spot in gardens and parks because it often grows in clusters!
Habitat: Moist and shady places like gardens, parks, and woodlands.
Appearance
The Hairy Bittercress is a small, low-growing plant with a rosette of lobed, dark green leaves often tinged purple at the base. It has slender stems topped with clusters of tiny white, four-petaled flowers, which distinguish it from many larger garden weeds.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusCardamine
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even when cut back, this plant can quickly regrow and produce more seeds!
It can produce over 5,000 tiny seeds from just one plant in a single season!
Its peppery leaves are a favorite addition to salads, adding a zesty mustard flavor.
The 'bittercress' part of its name comes from its slightly bitter, peppery taste.
Special abilities
Ability
Explosive Seed Launcher
Hairy Bittercress can launch its seeds up to several meters away using spring-loaded pods, helping it spread rapidly across areas.
Ability
Winter Survivor
This plant can germinate and grow even in cold winter months, giving it a head start over many other plants in spring.
Ability
Rapid Life Cycle
Hairy Bittercress matures and produces seeds incredibly fast, allowing it to complete its life cycle before competitors take over.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Spread
- 10-20 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.2-0.4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to autumn
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Self
Ecological connections
eats
Garden Snail
Helix aspersa
Snails often munch on its leaves.
eats
Spanish Slug
Arion lusitanicus
Slugs are known to feed on its foliage.
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Honey bees visit its small white flowers.
Traits
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
bittercressland cressrock cress
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Hairy Bittercress?
5-30 cm
How wide does Hairy Bittercress spread?
10-20 cm
How big are the flowers on Hairy Bittercress?
0.2-0.4 cm
When does Hairy Bittercress bloom?
Spring to autumn
Is Hairy Bittercress edible?
Yes
Is Hairy Bittercress toxic?
None
What is Hairy Bittercress's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Hairy Bittercress pollinated?
Self
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Zoo30 sightings21 species
New York, US
Seneca Park Zoo
You might spot Mute Swan, Duck, and House Sparrow.
View guide →
Park34 sightings15 species
Virginia, US
Popes Head Park
You might spot Eastern Box Turtle, Sycamore, and Grape Family.
View guide →
Park22 sightings14 species
Virginia, US
Hooes Road Park
You might spot Bird's-Eye Speedwell and Mulberries.
View guide →
