Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Brassicaceae / Cruciferae ⟩ Cardamine hirsuta / hairy bitter-cress

Cardamine hirsuta L.

hairy bitter-cress (Brassicaceae / Cruciferae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyS
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Cardamine hirsuta is often confused with Cardamine flexuosa, but it has far more basal leaves, with fewer leaflets each, and typically has 4 stamens in each flower.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2009-02-27

 hairy bitter-cress / Cardamine hirsuta: _Cardamine hirsuta_ is often confused with _Cardamine flexuosa_, but it has far more basal leaves, with fewer leaflets each, and typically has 4 stamens in each flower.

The flowers of Cardamine hirsuta have four stamens, all the same length; in Cardamine flexuosa there are two additional, shorter stamens.

St. Mary’s (VC1: West Cornwall & Scillies); 2026-03-23

 hairy bitter-cress / Cardamine hirsuta: The flowers of _Cardamine hirsuta_ have four stamens, all the same length; in _Cardamine flexuosa_ there are two additional, shorter stamens.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne