Hoary Cress, Whitetop
Cardaria draba

Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

What it is like

Cardaria draba is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, insects. 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 soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

A weed of arable fields, it is spreading rapidly in Britain.

Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia. Naturalized in Britain.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Central Asia*, China, Egypt, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kashmir, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Yugoslavia.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Young leaves and shoots - raw in salads or cooked as a potherb. A report says that the young leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though does not give any more details. In small quantities this substance is fairly harmless, and has even been recommended as having health benefits, but caution is suggested if you eat these leaves. The pungent leaves are used as a seasoning. The seed is used as a condiment, it is a pepper substitute.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 1

The plant is antiscorbutic. The seeds have been used as a cure for flatulence and fish poison. It is assumed that this report is referring to food poisoning caused by eating suspect fish.

Antiscorbutic: A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Other

Rating: 0

How it is grown

Succeeds in a sunny position in most soils.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in situ in spring. There is very little need to encourage this plant, it is a rapidly spreading weed in Britain. Division in spring.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 5-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Noxious Weed Information. In the US it is a noxious weed in the following areas: Alaska (whitetop) Noxious weed. Arizona (globe-podded hoary cress) Prohibited noxious weed. (globe-podded hoary cress, whitetop) Restricted noxious weed. California (lens podded hoarycress) B list (noxious weeds). Colorado (hoary cress) B list (noxious weeds). Idaho (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Iowa (perennial pepper-grass) Primary noxious weed. Kansas (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Montana (whitetop, hoary cress) Category 1 noxious weed. Nevada (whitetop, hoary cress) Noxious weed. New Mexico (hoary cress) Class A noxious weed. Oregon (whitetop, hoary cress) "B" designated weed (whitetop, hoary cress) Quarantine. South Dakota (hoary cress) Noxious weed (hoary cress) Regulated non-native plant species. Utah (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Washington (hoary cress) Class C noxious weed. Wyoming (hoary cress, whitetop) Noxious weed. A weed in much of south-east and south-west Australia

Its other names

Local names

Hoary cress, Srdasica, White weed, globed-podded hoarycress, peppergrass, whitetop, whiteweed.

Synonyms

Lepidium draba.