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Cardamine amara - L.

Common Name Large Bittercress
Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats By springs, in fens and on streamsides, preferring a peaty soil[17]. Often found in trickling water[187]. Often the dominant ground flora in alder woods with moving damp water[17].
Range Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 64° N., east to the Balkans and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Cardamine amara Large Bittercress


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Cardamine amara Large Bittercress
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cardamine amara is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to June, and the seeds ripen from May to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw[2, 61, 115]. A hot cress-like flavour[183], nice in small quantities in a salad and available all year round in most years[K]. A somewhat bitter flavour[9].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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  Diuretic  Stimulant

Antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant[132].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in most moist soils[187]. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. An invasive plant spreading freely by self-sowing, it is best suited to the wild garden[187]. A polymorphic species[132].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors in situ in a shady position in April.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cardamine amaraeformis Annual0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Cardamine bonariensis Annual0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Cardamine bulbiferaCoral Root, Coralroot bittercressPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNM20 
Cardamine bulbosaBulbous BittercressPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine debilisRoadside bittercressPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM20 
Cardamine fauriei Perennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine flexuosaWavy Bittercress,Woodland bittercressAnnual/Perennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine glacialis Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM20 
Cardamine heptaphylla Perennial0.4 -  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine hirsutaHairy BittercressAnnual0.3 4-8  LMHSNM301
Cardamine impatiensNarrowleaf bittercressAnnual/Biennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNMWe210
Cardamine kitaibelii Perennial0.2 5-9  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine komarovii Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine leucantha Perennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNMWe21 
Cardamine loxostemonoidesCuckoo FlowerAnnual0.3 -  LMHSNM10 
Cardamine lyrata Perennial0.5 6-9  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine macrophylla Perennial0.3 5-9  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine nasturtioides Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM20 
Cardamine nipponica Perennial0.1 -  LMHSNM10 
Cardamine oligospermaSpring Cress, Little western bittercress, Umbel bittercressAnnual/Biennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNMWe21 
Cardamine pennsylvanicaBittercressBiennial/Perennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNMWe21 
Cardamine pentaphyllos Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine pratensisCuckoo FlowerPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe322
Cardamine prorepens Perennial0.4 4-8  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine raphanifolia Perennial0.5 4-8  LMHFSMWe102
Cardamine rotundifoliaAmerican Water Cress, American bittercressPerennial0.3 5-9  LMHSNMWeWa20 
Cardamine schinziana Perennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine scutata Annual/Biennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNMWe20 
Cardamine trifolia Perennial0.2 6-9  LMHFSMWE103
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

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Subject : Cardamine amara  
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