Common Name: American Yellowrocket

General Information

Barbarea orthoceras is an erect, biennial to perennial plant growing from 10 - 100cm tall, but mainly from 20 - 60cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

N. America - Alaska to Newfoundland, south to California, New Mexico; E. Asia - Siberia, Russian Far East, northern China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Banks of streams, in swamps or on wet rocks, Labrador to Alaska and south to California[]. Open grasslands, scree, temperate mixed forests, river and streamsides, moist grassy slopes; at elevations from 400 - 3,400 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Flies, Bees, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Barbarea orthoceras is mainly native to northern Asia and northern North America, where it will experience very cold winters. It also finds its way as far south as Taiwan in Asia and California and New Mexico in N. America. The further south it is found the higher the elevation at which it is likely to grow.
Species in this genus generally succeed in sun or shade in a moist well-drained soil[]. This species is also often found in quite wet situations[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[]. The rosettes of the dark green shiny leaves are eaten raw or cooked[]. A hot, cress-like flavour.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in early spring to early summer.