Cardamine

Family: Brassicaceae
Common Name: Bitter Cress, Lady's Smock

These hardy annual, biennial or perennial herbs were once used as sedatives in medicine. Native to Europe and much of the northern hemisphere, some species have become weeds.

Species

C. pratensis, a perennial widely distributed in Europe, has small, pale mauve or lilac flowers in spring and summer and lance-shaped to oblong leaves. It adapts well to rock gardens or cool, moist to boggy borders. Propagation is usually by offsets, although it can also be started from seed. It is used as cress in some parts of Europe.

Cultivation

Cardamine does well in moist, rather boggy gardens. Propagate from seed sown in the spring or by division of the rootstock in autumn.

Climate

Zone 4.