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Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts ButterfliesButterflies are attracted to this plant
Attracts MothsMoths are attracted to this plant
Annual Life CycleAnnual life cycle
Cross-Shaped FlowersCross-shaped flowers
White FlowersWhite flowers
4 Petals4 petals
Feb-Nov Flowering
period
Pinnate LeavesPinnate leaves
Lobe-Edged LeavesLobe-edged leaves
Round StemRound stem
Fibrous RootsFibrous roots
30cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Hairy Bittercress
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Hairy Bittercress is a native annual plant of the UK, typically found growing in cultivated land and water margins, to a mature height of up to 30cm.

Hairy Bittercress is named after the plant's downy leaves and leaf stalks, and the taste of its leaves.

Botanic classification and naming: Hairy Bittercress is a member of the Cabbage (Brassicaceae) family. The genus name 'Cardamine' identifies the plant as a Bittercress and its species name 'hirsuta' means 'hairy plant'.

Benefits: Food source for caterpillars of the Garden Carpet moth.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Hairy Bittercress

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Hairy Bittercress usually flowers between February and November.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour White

White

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Cross

Cross

Petals:

Petal Number =  4

4

Leaf of Hairy Bittercress

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Pinnate

Pinnate

Or:

Alternative Leaf Shape is Rosette

Rosette

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is lobed

lobed

Stem of Hairy Bittercress

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Round

Round

Root type:

Root Type is Fibrous

Fibrous