Pollinator plant

Cuckoo Flower

Cardamine pratensis

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Common names

17 names

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

English
  • Cuckoo Flower[1]
  • cuckoo-flower[2]
  • Cuckooflower[2]
  • European field bittercress[2]
  • Lady's-smock[2]
  • Lady`s smock
  • lady’s smock[1]
  • meadow bittercress[2]
  • Milkmaids[2]
  • Whitsuntide Gilliflower[2]
Dutch
  • Gewone pinksterbloem[2]
  • Pinksterbloem[2]
French
  • Cardamine des prés[2]
German
  • Wiesenschaumkraut[2]
Italian
  • Billeri dei prati[2]
Portuguese
  • Agrião-dos-prados[2]
Spanish
  • mastuerzo de prado[2]

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

[1] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • cuckoo flower — Page 4, column 1, row top 532 pt; common-name cell after Cardamine pratensis.; Cardamine pratensis.
  • lady’s smock — Page 4, column 1, row top 532 pt; common-name cell after Cardamine pratensis.; Cardamine pratensis.
[2] Cardamine pratensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Pinksterbloem — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Cardamine des prés — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Wiesenschaumkraut — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • cuckoo-flower — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Cuckooflower — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • European field bittercress — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Lady's-smock — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • meadow bittercress — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Milkmaids — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Whitsuntide Gilliflower — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • mastuerzo de prado — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Billeri dei prati — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Gewone pinksterbloem — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
  • Agrião-dos-prados — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 54531; Cardamine pratensis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Cardamine pratensis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Brassicaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Cardamine pratensis in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.50 m high × 0.30 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist, Wet
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers
Functions
Pollinator plant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
5 out of 5

The leaves and young shoots of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, but have a bitter and sharp taste. The leaves and young shoots can be harvested in the spring and taste somewhat like watercress. They are available early in the year and make a tasty addition to salads when used in small amounts. The flowers and flower buds can be eaten raw and have a spicy, watercress-like flavor. The white flowers are attractive and add a pleasant crunch and delightful taste to salads.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Cardamine pratensis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5119641; ID R4LD; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5119641; ID R4LD; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Cardamine pratensis (top 532 pt)

    Source checked on .