Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Hairy bittercress is a member of the mustard family and spreads by seeds that are dispersed as the pods burst open explosively after maturing. The surface of the leaves is often hairy. Leaf margins are deeply lobed. Control: View 2004 granular herbicide trials for controlling this and other common container weed species. ENH1250 Biology and Management of Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) in Ornamental Crop Production1Chris Marble, Shawn Steed, and Nathan S. Boyd2 1. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is a really unfortunate name for a wonderfully tasty edible weed.Bittercress is a mustard, so its bitterness is more spicy-hot than bitter, though it’s not nearly as hot as some other members of the Brassicaceae family. The plant is self-fertile. Its ability to remains green throughout the winter means this plant plays a crucial role for the wild forager as it supplies essential vitamins and minerals through the Winter, It is best eaten though in January and February. Each flower has four white petals that form in the shape of a cross. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) (see image above) is an annual species, common throughout the British Isles, particularly on bare ground, path-sides, and on walls. Hairy Bittercress – A Delightful Misnomer As far as I’m concerned, hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is neither hairy nor bitter. Cardamine hirsuta, commonly called hairy bittercress, is an annual or biennial species of plant in the family Brassicaceae, and is edible as a bitter herb. Hairy bittercress is a hardy, frost-tolerant plant that remains green throughout the winter in most climates. Growth habit. Its sharpness balances the fattiness of patés and certain cuts of meat. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Leaves are rounded to wedge-shaped and often have small hairs (i.e., The leaves are round or kidney-shaped. They resume growth and produce seed in the spring and die as temperatures increase in late spring and early summer. As for bitter, I prefer to classify the flavor as slightly… Why do we need this? This weed blooms in Spring, when cool, moist conditions are present. […] Hairy bittercress is best managed mechanically when it is young. A member of the mustard family (Cruciferae), hairy bittercress can function as a winter annual, summer annual, or biennial. Once the seed pods ripen, disturbing the pods will send the seeds flying as far as 16 feet. Often considered a common garden "weed," Hairy Bittercress happens to be a delicious wild edible plant. Leaf margins are deeply lobed. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) leafs out in a basal rosette, and like other members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), its tender greens are edible. Hairy bittercress weed is no exception. Notwithstanding its name, the flavor is mild and peppery, not bitter. Botanists call this mechanism ballochory, meaning ballistic seed dispersal. Use it as soon after harvest as possible, as it wilts quickly. LEARN HOW TO STOP THE INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, Coronavirus: Information and resources for the Extension Community, Photo credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org. Cardamine hirsuta is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). They quickly invade thin turf areas especially where there is good soil moisture. The leaves contain antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and beta-carotene. Learn how to control Hairy Bittercress with these easy to use products! Hairy bittercress is a winter annual weed that is in the mustard family and, while considered an undesirable plant that invades our lawns, is an edible plant. Don’t be fooled by the common name—its flavor is mild and peppery, not bitter. Bittercress and aphids: As if bittercress weren't bad enough by itself, it also is a refuge for aphids. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is a winter or summer annual weed (depending on location). Leaves at the base of the plant are larger than the leaves at the top of the plant. As long as it has not set seed, you can add hairy bittercress to your compost pile. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth. Hairy bittercress, annual meadow grass, dandelion and groundsel are a particular problem at the moment and are much easier to remove when they are young. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. Some differences are that the stems are hairless and the leaves do not clasp the stems, as in C.flexuosa. Winter annual broadleaf weeds germinate in the fall or winter and grow during any warm weather, which may occur in the winter, but otherwise remain somewhat dormant during the winter. The seeds usually germinate in late summer or early fall and seedlings remain dormant until the weather warms up in early spring and … Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is a winter or summer annual weed (depending on location). Hairy bittercress typically flowers and produces seed during early spring. Small white flowers form at the end of the stems. Prevent bare spots in your lawn by developing a dense, vigorous turf. Hairy Bittercress is a photoautotroph. Hairy bittercress is very similar to Cardamine flexuosa. Thin fibrous flower stems emerge from the center of the rosette and grow from three to nine inches tall. Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist. The plant is an annual weed, which is one of the earliest to sprout and form seeds. Growth from a rosette allows this species to tolerate frequent mowing at a diversity of heights of cut (Figure 1). In C. flexuosa the fruits do not overtop the younger flowers. Funding for this site is provided by the Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education, the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. Cooperative Extension has offices in every county. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Two to four pairs of leaflets are arranged alternately on each leaf stem. Small round fruits (capsules) develop at the ends of each branch. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. As it matures, two valves coil within the seed pod. The most important step in eradicating hairy bittercress in your garden is to never, ever let this weed go to seed. The seeds germinate from late summer through the fall, then overwinter and continue to grow in early spring. Photo by Lori Imboden, MSU Extension. How to identify Hairy Bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta. A dense, vigorous turf is the best way to reduce the encroachment of winter annual weeds. It really picks up growth in early spring. Products labeled to treat Hairy Bittercress; Snapshot 2.5 TG - 50 lbs. The leaf size ranges from less than one-half inch to one inch, and the terminal leaf (the one at the end of the leaf stem) is the largest. Hairy bittercress going to seed. Ferti-lome Weed-Out Lawn Weed Killer with Trimec. Bittercress is quite good raw, but as with any seasonal herbs that grow in water, you should check whether any livestock have access to the stream where you’re collecting it. Young hairy bittercress Cutting it short doesn't usually work because they can grow additional flower stems. Summer annual weeds die with the first frost. Subscribe By Email chevron_right. Small hairs can be found at the base of the leaf as well as on the top of the leaf surface. Hairy bittercress is a winter or summer annual depending on its location. What separates NC State University from other schools? Hi-Yield Weed and Feed 15-0-10. Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is a winter or summer annual weed (depending on location). Entering your postal code will help us provide news or event updates for your area. The seed pod is called a silique and can contain up to 30 seeds. Basal rosette of pinnate leaves; 1-3 pairs of leaflets with terminal, larger leaflet; tiny, 4-petaled white flowers in clusters at top of stems, followed by slender, upright seed capsules. and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Hairy bittercress and other winter annual weed species, like common chickweed and purple deadnettle, are not typically present during the summer months. Leaves at the base of the plant are larger than the leaves at the top of the plant. It may often be seen growing on the surface of containers in nurseries and garden centres and the seeds can be introduced into gardens unwittingly with container-grown plants. What is hairy bittercress? It is hardy to zone (UK) 5 and is not frost tender. It initially forms a basal rosette. Hairy Bittercress Identification Hairy bittercress seed germinates in late fall and, after emergence, forms a rosette as well as a fibrous root system. This allows the silique to explode, propelling seeds up to 16 feet. Stems can be 3-9 inches long, and the leaves are mostly on the lower portion of the stem in a basal rosette. The plant develops as a basal rosette, like a dandelion. It has only 4 stamens, C. flexuosa has 6 stamens, and the fruits overtop the flowers. Celsius WG Herbicide. This document is ENH1250, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Want to see which lists are available? It is common in moist areas around the world. Learn More About NC State Extension, We have several topic based e-mail newsletters that are sent out periodically when we have new information to share. It germinates in the fall and will continue to grow during warm spells throughout the winter. Hairy bittercress can take hold in thin lawns and landscape beds in fall. Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of Weeds of the U.S. KY: Haragan, P.D.. 1991. Be on the lookout for bittercress in the containers you bring home from the garden center. Late winter and spring signal growth of all plants, but especially weeds. To reduce its numbers, prevent it from germinating by eliminating bare soil in your garden. Edit: Within the video I … Hirsuta is derived from the latin hirsutus, meaning "somewhat hairy". Cardamine hirsuta (Hairy Bittercress) is a species of annual herb in the family Brassicaceae. It has simple, broad leaves. Annual weed seeds overwinter and then burst into growth towards the end of the season. This is a small, low-growing weed. Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta I love this little compact, rosette shaped annual with lobed leaves, small white flowers and upright seed pods that explode, flinging the seeds far and wide when ripe and you touch them, hence one of its names ‘shot weed or ‘flick weed’. I usually notice this weed emerging in the last days of summer. Life cycle Primarily a winter annual. It dies when the weather gets hot in late spring or early summer and after it … Hairy bittercress likes moist freshly-disturbed soil and is a common weed in European gardens. This plant is growing in my back yard. What made it so helpful? Hairy bittercress is a prolific seed producer. 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