Cliff Bittercress

Cardamine rupicola

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Brassicaceae
Genus:
Cardamine
Species:
Cardamine rupicola
USDA Symbol:
CARU2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
white, pink

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Green-veined white (Pieris napi), Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained calcareous soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers limestone-rich environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds benefit from cold stratification; sow in fall or after cold treatment for spring germination.

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: Claude AI