Barbarea verna

RHS Plant Profile
American cress

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American cress RHS

Other common names

bank cress, Belle Isle cress, early cress, early winter cress, land cress, Normandy cress, yellow cress, winter cress, yellow rocket

Synonyms

Barbarea praecox

Annual Biennial
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A biennial producing a rosette of dark green, deeply-lobed leaves which may be used as a watercress substitute. In spring or summer of its second year it produces upright stems with clusters of small, yellow, four-petalled flowers

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Barbarea can be biennials or perennials, with simple or pinnately divided leaves and small, 4-petalled yellow or white flowers, followed by slender seed-pods
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SW Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist soil in full sun or semi shade. Can be cropped virtually all year by staggering sowing dates

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown thinly in seed trays or small pots. Plant outdoors when large enough to handle (around 10" (25cm) in height) in rows 12" (30cm) apart

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to flea beetle

Diseases

Generally disease-free