milkmaids
ExplorePlants
milkmaids
Cardamine californica
Milkmaids are pretty little flowers that bloom in spring. They have delicate white petals and grow in shady places, making them a lovely sight in the forest!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The milkmaids has slender green stems often topped with small clusters of four-petaled white or pale pink flowers. Its leaves are typically basal, dark green, and somewhat rounded or lobed, forming a rosette near the ground. The simple white flowers distinguish it from many other early spring blooms.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusCardamine
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's related to tasty watercress and radishes!
Its seeds can pop out and scatter far away!
Often found growing under tall redwood trees!
Some people call it 'bittercress' because of its peppery taste!
Special abilities
Ability
Winter Wake-Up
milkmaids can bloom in late winter, providing nectar for early-rising insects when most other plants are still dormant.
Ability
Speedy Spreader
milkmaids can quickly colonize forest floors by readily self-seeding, helping it spread and thrive in its habitat.
Ability
Leafy Lifeline
milkmaids has basal leaves that stay green through much of the year, providing a consistent food source for some browsing animals.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-50 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Winter to spring
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen from early blooms.
pollinates
Yellow-faced bumblebee
Bombus vosnesenskii
Important native pollinator of its flowers.
eaten by
Mule deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Browses on its tender leaves and shoots.
eats
Cabbage white butterfly
Pieris rapae
Larvae may feed on its leaves due to family relation.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wildflowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is milkmaids?
10-50 cm
How wide does milkmaids spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on milkmaids?
0.5-1.5 cm
When does milkmaids bloom?
Winter to spring
Is milkmaids edible?
Yes
Is milkmaids toxic?
None
What is milkmaids's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is milkmaids pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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