
Specimen collected in Thalkirchen, Germany, May 2024(Backlit)
Cardamine amara
Scientific Name
Cardamine amara
FAMILY
brassicaceae
LIFESPAN
perennial
BLOSSOM SYMMETRY
radial
Common Name
Large bitter-cress
ORDER
brassicales
BLOSSOM COLOR
white
PHYLLOTAXIS
alternate
Cardamine amara, commonly known as large bittercress, is a perennial wildflower native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is distinguished by its pinnate, glossy green leaves and clusters of small, white, four-petaled flowers that bloom in spring and early summer. Unlike many wildflowers, it thrives in damp, shaded habitats such as stream banks, wet meadows, and marshy areas. Its flowers provide an early source of nectar for bees and other pollinators, while its preference for wet soils makes it an important species for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance in riparian and marsh ecosystems.

