Cardamine hirsuta, commonly known as hairy bittercress, is an annual or biennial herb native to Europe and Asia but has naturalized in many parts of the world, including North America. It typically inhabits moist, disturbed sites such as fields, gardens, and greenhouse environments. The plant reaches a modest height of 3-12 inches (7.5-30 cm) and forms a basal rosette of leaves. The leaves are compound with several small leaflets and covered with fine hairs, giving the plant its common name. Hairy bittercress blooms early in the spring, displaying small, white, four-petaled flowers that are quite showy given the plant’s overall size. After flowering, it produces slender seed pods (siliquae) that explosively dehisce, effectively dispersing seeds over a considerable distance.

Hairy bittercress is valued for its early spring flowers and its edibility, with young leaves often used in salads for a peppery flavor. It is easy to grow and maintain, thriving in cool, moist conditions, and can be found in urban gardens, containers, and as a ground cover in shaded areas. It prefers moist, well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade. While it is not typically cultivated for ornamental purposes, it can be an attractive addition to early spring gardens. However, gardeners should be aware of its invasive potential and manage its spread by removing plants before seed set.CC BY-SA 4.0