Barbarea vulgaris - Yellow Rocket

Family:	Cruciferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.35
Synonyms:	Campe barbarea. Erysimum barbarea.
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Asia.

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.35m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Yellow Rocket will flower in November to February. the seeds ripen from January to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Flies, bees, beetles, self

Soil Information

Yellow Rocket will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Yellow Rocket prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Yellow Rocket can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Moist places, roadsides, stream banks and hedges[9].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Will grow in a hedge row

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in sun or shade in a moist well-drained soil[1, 111]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.5. The plant can continue to grow all winter, especially if the weather is mild[183]. A short-lived perennial[1], though plants usually self-sow freely when in a suitable position[K]. There is at least one named form, developed for its ornamental value. 'Variegata' has variegated leaves and grows less strongly than the type[183]. A good bee plant[108].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Young leaves - raw or cooked like spinach[2, 9, 27, 46, 52, 95]. A hot cress-like flavour[183]. Young leaves are chopped up finely and added to salads, older leaves can be used as a potherb but they are rather strong and are best cooked in one or two changes of water[183]. The leaves are available all year round, even in the winter, especially if the weather is mild[95, 115]. To increase the productivity of the plants, remove the flowering stems as they appear (they can be eaten like the leaves[K]) and pick the outer leaves as the plant regrows[244]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young flowering stems - harvested before the flowers open and cooked like broccoli[183].

• Flowers -
• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The leaves are vulnerary and have been used as a poultice for treating wounds[207, 240]. A tea made from the leaves is appetizer, antiscorbutic and diuretic[222].

• Antiscorbutic - A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
• Appetizer - Improves the appetite
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks. Division in spring. his plant is a short-lived perennial, and also usually self-sows freely, so we have not found division to be worthwhile.

Known Hazards

There is a report that ingestion of the leaves can lead to kidney malfunction[222].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

'' - No entries have been made for this species as yet.

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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