SafePlants

Cardamine flagellifera

Also known as Blue Ridge Bittercress, Cardamine flagellifera is a flowering plant belonging to the genus Cardamine, commonly known as bittercress or bitter-cress.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cardamine flagellifera O.E. Schulz
• Common Name: Blue Ridge Bittercress
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Synonyms/Variations: Cardamine flagellifera O.E. Schulz var. flagellifera

Distribution and Habitat

• This plant is often found in the Southern Appalachian/Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Specifically mentioned locations include Polk County, South Carolina (e.g., on forested banks above Colt Creek, Pearson’s Falls), and the Blue Ridge province of North Carolina in Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties.
• It can be found on seepage slopes.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Cardamine flagellifera is a forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
• It can grow to a large size, reaching up to 2 meters in height.
• The plant is not an evergreen, losing its foliage annually.

Quirky Facts

• Despite its name, Blue Ridge Bittercress is reported to have a great flavor and is not at all bitter.
• It's noted as often being the first wildflower observed by the river bottomland in its habitat.

Further Information

• Discover Life provides a page with detailed information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cardamine flagellifera.
• iNaturalist and Flickr may contain photos and observations of this species.