Cardamine dentata
Images by part: leaf (1) · flower (2) · fruit (0) · bark (0) · habit (1) · other (0)

Cardamine dentata

Toothed Bittercress · White Cuckoo Bitter-cress

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: partial_sun
0
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 3–8
0
Observations
1

Description

Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Cardamine pratensis, the cuckoo flower, lady's smock, mayflower, or milkmaids, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is a perennial herb native to Eurasia.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Partial sun

Cuckoo flower is native to habitats such as forest understories and rocky areas, where it occurs in natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can also tolerate full sun or full shade, showing its versatile and hardy nature.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ Temperature 0–32.2°C

Cuckoo flower can tolerate a broad range of temperatures, but its distribution may still be restricted by various combinations of moisture and heat. It performs best in warm summer conditions with sufficient rainfall or watering. Long stretches of cloudy, rainy weather, as well as extended high temperatures, can increase the chance of the Cuckoo flower dying. In winter, protecting the plant from cold can enhance its survival.

Ideal temperature: 0–32.2°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

One application of fertilizer in spring is generally enough for Cuckoo flower, although repeated feedings can boost growth. Fertilize every month to six weeks. Feeding improves the leaves' appearance and function, maintaining even color and a healthy texture, and it also encourages root development and nutrient uptake for long-term plant health.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

The cuckoo flower is a delicate herb with lance-shaped leaves and pale pink or white blossoms. To keep the plant healthy, prune it in early to mid-spring after it has finished blooming. This involves removing dead stems and thinning out any overcrowded growth. Doing so improves air circulation, enhances flowering, and reduces the risk of disease.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Cardamine
Family
Brassicaceae
Hardiness Zone
3-8
Mature Height
15 cm to 61 cm
Mature Spread
10 cm to 30 cm
Leaf Color
Dark Green, Forest Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
Lavender
Flower Size
1.02 cm to 2.03 cm
Bloom Time
Early spring, Mid spring
Planting Time
Spring, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late spring, Early summer

Tags (8)

Common Names (2)

en Toothed Bittercress
en White Cuckoo Bitter-cress