Hairy Bittercress
Cardamine hirsuta
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Borneo, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canary Is., China, Congo, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Gabon, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kriti, Krym, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Malaya, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Guinea, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sumatera, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam
Kevin Thiele (www.flickr.com) from Perth, Australia
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Genus:
- Cardamine
- Species:
- Cardamine hirsuta
- USDA Symbol:
- CAHI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- feb,mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Paramidea midea
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- often found in disturbed, open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in moist soil without pretreatment; light may enhance germination.