Cardamine heptaphylla
Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
What it is like
Cardamine heptaphylla is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.4
Where it is found
Not known
Western and Central Europe.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Leaves - raw or cooked. A fairly acceptable cabbage-like flavour with a hint of radish and not very hot when eaten raw, it will probably be somewhat nicer when cooked. Flowers - raw. A cabbage-like flavour with a hint of radish and not very hot when eaten raw, the taste is somewhat nicer than the leaves.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade but succeeds in most soils that are not dry. This species was seen growing and thriving in well-drained soil in fairly heavy dappled shade in a woodland garden at Cambridge Botanical Gardens in 1999.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first two years, planting them out when dormant in late summer. Division in early spring or after the plant dies down in the summer. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet