Common Name:

General Information

Cardamine raphanifolia is a herbaceous perennial plant spreading by means of rhizomes to form a clump; the robust, erect to ascending stems are around 15 - 65cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it makes a good ground cover in moist conditions.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Europe - southern France, and northern Spain. Occasionally established in Britain.

Habitat

Edges of streams and springs, wet meadows, shady sites in deciduous forests; at elevations from 200 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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 Cardamine pratensis[].

Edible Uses

We have no information on the edibility of this plant but the leaves are almost certainly edible[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

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

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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.