Plant Details

Barbarea vulgaris

Yellow Rocket, Garden yellowrocket

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Barbarea vulgaris.

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Common names

50 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
  • bitter wintercress[2]
  • common wintercress[2]
  • Garden yellowrocket[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Winter-cress[1]
  • Yellow Rocket[2]
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Gewone barbarakruid
  • Gewoon Barbarakruid[2]
French
  • Barbarée commune[2]
  • Herbe de Sainte-Barbe
Arabic
  • جرجير البر[2]
  • كثء شائع[2]
Belarusian
  • Свірэпа звычайная[2]
Catalan
  • Herba de Santa Bàrbara[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲山芥[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲山芥[2]
Czech
  • barborka obecná[2]
  • barborka obecná obloučnatá[2]
Danish
  • Almindelig vinterkarse[2]
Estonian
  • läänekollakas[2]
Finnish
  • kaaripeltokanankaali[2]
  • peltokanankaali[2]
German
  • Echte Winterkresse[1]
  • Echtes Barbarakraut[1][2]
  • Gewöhnliches Barbarakraut[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Winterkresse[2]
Hungarian
  • közönséges borbálafű[2]
Italian
  • Erba di Santa Barbara comune[2]
Japanese
  • ハルザキヤマガラシ[2]
Korean
  • 유럽나도냉이[2]
Latvian
  • lokaugļu zvērene[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji barborytė[2]
Norwegian
  • vinterkarse[2]
Polish
  • Gorczycznik pospolity[2]
Portuguese
  • Erva-de-santa-bárbara[2]
Russian
  • Сурепка большелистная[2]
  • Сурепка волосистая[2]
  • Сурепка дуговидная[2]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
  • Сурепка крымская[2]
  • Сурепка обыкновенная[2]
  • Сурепка отпрысковая[2]
  • Сурепка пиренейская[2]
  • Сурепка сибирская[2]
Slovak
  • barborka obyčajná[2]
Slovenian
  • navadna barbica[2]
Spanish
  • hierba de Santa Bárbara[2]
Swedish
  • Sommargyllen[2]
  • vanlig sommargyllen[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Суріпиця звичайна[2]
Welsh
  • Berwr y gaeaf[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Barbarea vulgaris W.T.Aiton ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Echte Winterkresse (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146458; taxon VK7HT.
  • Echtes Barbarakraut — VernacularName.tsv, line 146459; taxon VK7HT.
  • Winter-cress (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146460; taxon VK7HT.
[2] Barbarea vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • bitter wintercress — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка обыкновенная — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • peltokanankaali — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Barbarée commune — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • yellow rocket — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • garden yellowrocket — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Gewoon Barbarakruid — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Echtes Barbarakraut — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • common wintercress — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Sommargyllen — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • barborka obecná — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • barborka obecná obloučnatá — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • ハルザキヤマガラシ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • läänekollakas — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • hierba de Santa Bárbara — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • vinterkarse — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Paprastoji barborytė — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • kaaripeltokanankaali — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Gorczycznik pospolity — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Erva-de-santa-bárbara — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Almindelig vinterkarse — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • كثء شائع — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • جرجير البر — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка волосистая — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка большелистная — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка пиренейская — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка сибирская — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка отпрысковая — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка крымская — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • 欧洲山芥 — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • 유럽나도냉이 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Herba de Santa Bàrbara — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Winterkresse — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Gewöhnliches Barbarakraut — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • vanlig sommargyllen — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • navadna barbica — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Свірэпа звычайная — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Erba di Santa Barbara comune — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • közönséges borbálafű — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • barborka obyčajná — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Суріпиця звичайна — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Сурепка дуговидная — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Berwr y gaeaf — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • 歐洲山芥 — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • lokaugļu zvērene — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.
  • Nicarotu — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56126; Barbarea vulgaris.

General information

Scientific name: Barbarea vulgaris
Accepted name (Kew): Barbarea vulgaris W.T.Aiton View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Brassicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Barbarea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Yellow Rocket, Garden yellowrocket
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.40 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Biennial, Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Young leaves of this plant taste warm and resemble garden cress. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. Older leaves can be used as a vegetable, but they have a rather strong flavor and are best cooked, possibly in fresh water. These leaves are available year-round, even in winter, especially in mild weather conditions. To increase the yield of the plant, it is advisable to remove flower stalks as soon as they appear – these are edible just like the leaves. Pick the outer leaves when the plant starts to grow again. Note: please refer to information about potential toxicity as mentioned earlier. Young flower stalks of this plant can also be harvested before the flowers open and cooked, similar to broccoli.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/04
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 63891; name ID 2669601; Barbarea W.T.Aiton. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1323166; name ID 2669712; Barbarea vulgaris W.T.Aiton.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Barbarea vulgaris

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5294471, ID VK7HT: Barbarea vulgaris W.T.Aiton (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Barbarea vulgaris — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .