Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment

Young leaves and shoots - raw in salads or cooked as a potherb[2, 61, 105, 183]. A report says that the young leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though does not give any more details[240]. In small quantities this substance is fairly harmless, and has even been recommended as having health benefits, but caution is suggested if you eat these leaves[K]. The pungent leaves are used as a seasoning[183]. The seed is used as a condiment, it is a pepper substitute[2, 17, 61, 74, 148, 183]. Edible Uses & Rating: The leaves, flowers, and seeds are edible cooked. Raw flavours are intensely spicy, mustardy, and sharp—far too aggressive for salads—while the hoary texture of the leaves is off-putting. Cooking dramatically improves all edible parts, softening fibres, neutralizing bitterness, and reducing glucosinolate pungency. Flowers are somewhat milder and can be used similarly to broccoli florets when briefly cooked, although their flavour is nowhere near as refined. Seeds are spicy and benefit from toasting or boiling to improve palatability. Due to the plant’s abundance and reliability, it rates highly as a survival or bulk-foraging species, even though its culinary quality is moderate [2-3]. Edibility rating: 3/5 for flavour; 5/5 for abundance. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Fresh leaves taste spicy, acrid, and cabbage-like with a strong “wild mustard” intensity. Felt-like hairs may create a dry, hoary mouthfeel, but these soften with heat. Boiled leaves become mild and palatable. Fresh flowers are slightly sweet due to nectar traces and are the mildest raw component. Unopened flower clusters resemble miniature broccoli and can be cooked similarly—steamed, boiled, or incorporated into mixed greens. Seeds are hot and mustard-like; roasting brings out nutty notes and reduces harshness. Because hoarycress often grows in disturbed or agricultural soils, thorough washing is essential. Cooking is strongly recommended regardless of part used. Seasonality (Phenology): Rosettes emerge in early spring, and flowering begins from May through August depending on climate and elevation. Flower clusters remain showy for weeks, followed by rapid seedpod maturation. Seeds persist into summer, though they drop easily when tapped, facilitating both harvest and natural spread. Leaves become tougher and less palatable as plants mature, so the ideal harvest window is spring through early summer [2-3]. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): Raw plant material can be harsh, spicy, and irritating. Cooking is essential for neutralizing potentially harmful glucosinolates. Although livestock toxicity is documented, properly cooked human portions are considered safe. Avoid harvesting from contaminated roadsides or areas treated with herbicides, as hoarycress is frequently targeted for control. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Heartpod hoarycress resembles other Cardaria species, but those produce round instead of heart-shaped pods and may have hairy sepals. It may also be confused with some Lepidium species, but Lepidium pods are more strongly flattened and split open at maturity. The combination of clasping upper leaves, white flower masses, heart-shaped pods, and pubescent foliage makes C. draba distinguishable once known. Traditional / Indigenous Use Summary: Though not native to North America, heartpod hoarycress was quickly adopted by Indigenous groups after introduction, mainly for its edible cooked seeds and greens. Its Eurasian history as a minor food plant suggests long-standing recognition of its edibility despite its invasive or weedy nature. Harvest & Processing Workflow: Harvest young leaves in early spring by pulling or clipping the tender upper foliage. Wash thoroughly. Boil or steam to reduce heat and bitterness. Flower clusters can be harvested before opening or when freshly opened, then lightly steamed or sautéed. Seeds can be collected by tapping mature pods into a container; dry and winnow before toasting or grinding. Prevent spread by disposing of unwanted plant parts responsibly and avoiding disturbance that could break and spread rhizomes.

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiscorbutic  Carminative

The plant is antiscorbutic[240]. The seeds have been used as a cure for flatulence and fish poison[240]. It is assumed that this report is referring to food poisoning caused by eating suspect fish[K].

Ecology & Wildlife: Flowers are highly attractive to insect pollinators, especially small bees, syrphid flies, and other generalist foraging insects. Rhizomatous mats can exclude native forbs and grasses, reducing biodiversity and altering soil dynamics. Seeds are not a major wildlife food source but may be eaten opportunistically by small birds or rodents. As with many mustard-family plants, the glucosinolate chemistry provides some herbivory resistance.

Special Uses