Cardamine hirsuta, commonly known as hairy bittercress, is a broadleaf winter annual. In the Brassica family. That means it is related to cabbage, broccoli, turnips and radishes, etc.  

A native to Europe and Western Asia, hairy bittercress has made itself at home in much of the United States. It is very adept at growing in any disturbed soil, especially if a cool, moist environment is present. Thin, shady lawns are prime territory. It is not picky, though. A crack in a sidewalk or gravel path is a fine place for seeds to sprout.

This cool-season weed can take over lawns and gardens because of its dynamic ability to spread seed. It can also settle in the microclimates of greenhouses and in bedding plant containers, so carefully inspect any planting material you are introducing to your garden.

Hairy bittercress emerges as a basal rosette with rounded leaves. The “hairy” attribute can be found on the lower leaves of the young plant. Two or four pairs of alternating round leaflets occur along a stem. A stalk emerges near the base, and can grow up to 12 inches tall. Over a three-week period, small, white flowers appear on the stalk, followed by an-inch-long, cigar-shaped seedpod, called a silique. When wind gusts or you or another creature disturb the plant, the pod erupts in a fireworks display. It shoots hundreds of seeds as far as 10 feet from the parent plant in hopes of preserving its kind in your yard. It is easy to control by hand, just pull the plants before the seedpods mature.

This is one of my ‘favorite’ weeds.  When in bloom, it can attract small butterflies like the Orange-tip Falcate, which also uses this as a host plant.  The best part, it is edible, and like other Brassicas, very healthy, as well. This is a great way to control the weed.  Harvest it where you know that no pesticides have been used and eat it.  I love its flavor!  Its leaves have a peppery flavor not unlike arugula or watercress. If you are so inclined, you can find recipes online for using it in salads, pesto and risotto.

As spring moves to summer, most hairy bittercress plants will be gone from sight, but not before leaving seeds behind for the following fall.