Cardamine raphanifolia

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

No information on this plant's edibility has been recorded, though the leaves are almost certainly edible.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

Britain, Europe, France, Mediterranean, Spain, Italy,

How to Identify

A cabbage family herb. It is a spreading plant. It forms mats. It grows 45-60 cm high.

How to Grow

Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade but succeeds in most soils that are not dry. Plants are closely related to C. pratensis.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame; germination typically occurs within 1–3 weeks at 15°C. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings into individual pots and grow on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first two years, planting out when dormant in late summer. Divide in early spring or after the plant dies back in summer. Larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller ones should be potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted before planting out in spring.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as ground cover, forming a fairly good carpet in a moist position.

A perennial reaching 0.5 m in height with hermaphrodite flowers. Hardy to UK zone 5. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH ranges. Grows in full shade to semi-shade and prefers moist to wet soil. Pollinated by bees, flies, moths, and butterflies; self-fertile. Makes an effective ground cover in moist positions.

Notes

There are about 160 Cardamine species. They are mostly in damp places in temperate regions.

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