Cardamine nasturtioides — Edible Plant

Summary

A perennial reaching 0.3 m (1 ft) tall, Cardamine nasturtioides flowers from April to August with seeds ripening May to September. This hermaphroditic plant is pollinated by bees, flies, and Lepidoptera, and is self-fertile. It tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acid to basic pH ranges. The plant grows in semi-shade or full sun and thrives in consistently moist soil conditions.

Description

A perennial reaching 0.3 m (1 ft) tall, Cardamine nasturtioides flowers from April to August with seeds ripening May to September. This hermaphroditic plant is pollinated by bees, flies, and Lepidoptera, and is self-fertile. It tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acid to basic pH ranges. The plant grows in semi-shade or full sun and thrives in consistently moist soil conditions.

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten raw and have a hot, pungent flavour that works well as an addition to salads.

Traditional Uses

The plant is eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Chile, South America,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade but succeeds in most soils that are not dry.

Propagation

Sow seed outdoors in a shady seedbed in April, then plant out in autumn or spring. Divide clumps in spring — larger clumps can go straight into their permanent positions, but smaller ones do better potted up in a cold frame until well rooted, then planted out in summer or the following spring.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 160 Cardamine species. They are mostly in damp places in temperate regions. This is probably a synonym of Cardamine flaccida or C. flexuosa.

References (3)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 82
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 161
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/