Plant Details

Cardamine hirsuta

Hairy bittercress

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Common names

43 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Flickweed[2]
  • hairy bitter cress[2]
  • Hairy Bitter-cress[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Hairy bittercress[2]
  • shotweed[2]
Other languages (28)
Dutch
  • Kleine veldkers[2]
French
  • Cardamine hirsute[2]
  • Cardamine hérissée[2]
  • Cresson de muraille[2]
Catalan
  • cardamina hirsuta[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 粗毛碎米荠[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • řeřišnice srstnatá[2]
Danish
  • Roset-springklap[2]
Estonian
  • kare jürilill[2]
Faroese
  • títlingskarsi[2]
Finnish
  • mäkilitukka[2]
German
  • Behaartes Schaumkraut[2]
  • Gartenschaumkraut[2]
  • Ruderal-Schaumkraut[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Vielstängel-Schaumkraut[2]
  • Viermänniges Schaumkraut[1][2]
Hebrew
  • קרדמין שעיר[2]
Hungarian
  • Borzas kakukktorma[2]
Irish
  • Searbh-bhiolar giobach[2]
Italian
  • Billeri primaticcio[2]
Japanese
  • ケタネツケバナ[2]
  • ミチタネツケバナ[2]
  • 道種漬花[2]
Korean
  • 봄맞이냉이[2]
Lithuanian
  • Gauruotoji kartenė[2]
Norwegian
  • rosettkarse[2]
Polish
  • Rzeżucha czteropręcikowa[2]
  • Rzeżucha włochata[2]
Russian
  • Сердечник шершавый[2]
Slovak
  • žerušnica chlpatá[2]
Slovenian
  • dlakava penuša[2]
Spanish
  • Berro amargo[2]
  • Berro cimarrón[2]
Swedish
  • Bergbräsma[2]
Turkish
  • Kıllı Kodim[2]
Ukrainian
  • Жеруха шорстка[2]
Language not specified
  • Berro cimarron (Cuba)[1]
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 — Cardamine hirsuta L. ↗

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

Source records
  • Viermänniges Schaumkraut (DE); Hairy Bitter-cress (EN); Berro cimarron (Cuba) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146492; taxon R4F5.
[2] Cardamine hirsuta — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • hairy bittercress — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Kleine veldkers — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • shotweed — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • hairy bitter cress — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • mäkilitukka — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Berro amargo — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Behaartes Schaumkraut — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Ruderal-Schaumkraut — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Gartenschaumkraut — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Viermänniges Schaumkraut — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Vielstängel-Schaumkraut — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Cardamine hirsute — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • קרדמין שעיר — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • ミチタネツケバナ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • 道種漬花 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • ケタネツケバナ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • řeřišnice srstnatá — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Bergbräsma — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Roset-springklap — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • rosettkarse — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Сердечник шершавый — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Gauruotoji kartenė — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • 粗毛碎米荠 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • žerušnica chlpatá — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • kare jürilill — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Flickweed — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • 碎米薺 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Rzeżucha czteropręcikowa — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • títlingskarsi — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Жеруха шорстка — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Billeri primaticcio — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • dlakava penuša — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Rzeżucha włochata — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Cresson de muraille — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Cardamine hérissée — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Borzas kakukktorma — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Berro cimarrón — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • cardamina hirsuta — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Searbh-bhiolar giobach — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • 봄맞이냉이 — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.
  • Kıllı Kodim — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 55829; Cardamine hirsuta.

General information

Scientific name: Cardamine hirsuta
Accepted name (Kew): Cardamine hirsuta L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Brassicaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Hairy bittercress
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.08–0.25 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.08–0.15 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Dense

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

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

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

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

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

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Leaves
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
None

Description

Leaves and flowers can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a spicy flavor similar to that of garden cress. This plant is often used as a garnish or for extra flavor in salads, but it can also sometimes be used as a leafy green. The plant usually grows easily in the autumn, making the leaves available throughout the winter.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/04
Harvest ends: 30/11

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 1337983; name ID 2699368; Cardamine L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1338343; name ID 2699855; Cardamine hirsuta L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Cardamine hirsuta

    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 5119488, ID R4F5: Cardamine hirsuta L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Cardamine hirsuta — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    • 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 .