Plants in genus cardamine
Cardamine bulbosa
Cardamine bulbosa, commonly known as bulbous bittercress, is a US native perennial found in moist soils of bottomland forests. It forms a patch about 10 inches tall and produces dangling white flowers in early February. The leaves are edible with a peppery taste.
Cardamine quinquefolia
Cardamine quinquefolia, also known as the five-leaved cuckoo flower, is a spring ephemeral groundcover native to the beech and oak forests around the Black Sea. It features deeply lobed green foliage and mauve flowers that bloom in late winter. This plant dies down in summer and is recognized for its ability to attract butterflies. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Cardamine lyrata
Cardamine lyrata is a marsh plant native to eastern Asia, known for its clover-like pattern and rapid growth under the right conditions. It thrives in cool, slow-moving water with strong light and high CO2 levels. This plant is often used in aquariums and provides coverage for aquatic life.
Cardamine douglassii
Cardamine douglassii is a native spring ephemeral plant that emerges in early November. It forms flat rosettes of glaucous leaves and expands into a 1-foot tall clump in mid-February, producing mauvy-pink flower spikes. This plant is native to states bordering the Mississippi River and is suitable for wet woodlands, adding a touch of color to spring gardens.
Cardamine bulbosa 'Fairy Lights'
Cardamine bulbosa 'Fairy Lights' is a native woodland spring ephemeral that emerges from dormancy in October. It grows to about 17 inches tall and produces clusters of tiny white bell-shaped flowers by mid-March. This plant is well-suited for cottage gardens and rock gardens, attracting butterflies and thriving in part sun to light shade. It is drought-tolerant and can grow in dry shade, making it a versatile addition to various garden settings.
Cardamine concatenata
Cardamine concatenata is a North American native spring ephemeral that emerges in late winter, reaching up to 10 inches tall. It features clusters of small blush pink flowers from mid-February to early April and spreads via short underground rhizomes. This plant prefers slightly moist to dry soils and can form a wide patch over time, making it a charming addition to woodland gardens.
Cardamine angustata
Cardamine angustata is a spring ephemeral native to woodland floodplains, featuring pewter green foliage and 6-inch tall spikes of white flowers in mid-March. It forms a 2-inch tall by 18-inch wide patch, making it a suitable groundcover for shaded areas.
Cardamine diphylla
Cardamine diphylla is a native plant from Maine to South Carolina, known for its winter-green foliage with dark olive drab and silver veins. It is a weed-suppressing groundcover that prefers moist woodland soil and light shade. The plant goes dormant in summer and re-emerges in late fall, producing clusters of white bells in early spring.
Cardamine dissecta
Cardamine dissecta is a unique plant introduced by Plant Delights/JLBG in 2022, collected from Whitfield County, Georgia. It features dental floss-like leaves that emerge in winter and tiny white bell-shaped flowers in mid-February. This slow-growing plant forms a 5-inch tall by 10-inch wide specimen and goes dormant by May, making it an interesting addition to gardens that appreciate seasonal changes.