Cardamine hirsuta
hairy bittercress, hairy bitter-cress, hoary bittercress
Family
Brassicaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate, basal
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Margin
lobed
Leaf Type
cauline, simple
Leaf Shape
elliptic, lanceolate, ovate
Growth Form
forb
Flower Color
white
Flower Petals
4
Flower Month
February - May
Height (meters)
0.1 - 0.4
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
introduced
Lifespan
annual
Growing Season
Cool season
Wetland Class
FAC
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
0
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
-1
Field Characters
Similar to small-flower bitter-cress, which has hairless petioles and leaf bases, leaves primarily on the stems, and one or a few stems rising from the base. Hairy bitter-cress has hairy petioles and leaf bases, primarily basal leaves, and several to many stems rising from the base.
Natural History
Usually found in damp soil, on roadsides, and old fields. A common weed in Louisiana but rare in east Texas. It is found mostly in the southeastern United States. This plant is a common weed in nursery pots and greenhouse experiments.
Habitat
Roadsides, open fields, and other weedy situations.