Cardamine amara - Large Bittercress

Family:	Cruciferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 64° N., east to the Balkans and W. Asia.

Cardamine amara (Large Bittercress) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 5and is vunerable to frost.
Large Bittercress will flower in October to December. the seeds ripen from November to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, lepidoptera

Soil Information

Large Bittercress will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary 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
Large Bittercress prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Large Bittercress can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

By springs, in fens and on streamsides, preferring a peaty soil[17]. Often found in trickling water[187].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in most moist soils[187]. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. An invasive plant spreading freely by self-sowing, it is best suited to the wild garden[187]. A polymorphic species[132].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Leaves - raw[2, 61, 115]. A hot cress-like flavour[183], nice in small quantities in a salad and available all year round in most years[K]. A somewhat bitter flavour[9].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant[132].

• Antiscorbutic - A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Stimulant - Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors in situ in a shady position in April.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

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

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