Wavy Bittercress Plant Care
Cardamine flexuosa With.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Cardamine flexuosa, commonly known as wavy bittercress or wood bitter-cress, is an herbaceous annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial plant in the cabbage family (Brassicaceae).
Partial shade to full shade
At a glance
How do you care for Wavy Bittercress?
Wavy Bittercress grows best in partial shade to full shade.
What Is the Wavy Bittercress?
Wavy Bittercress (Cardamine flexuosa) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Cardamine genus. Wavy Bittercress is also known as Cuckoo Flower, Spring Cress.
Wavy Bittercress displays a low-growing, spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Wavy Bittercress produces small, delicate white or pink flowers in clusters.
What Light Does the Wavy Bittercress Need?
Wavy Bittercress thrives in partial shade to full shade. Avoid placing Wavy Bittercress in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wavy Bittercress?
Moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Wavy Bittercress to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Wavy Bittercress?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Wavy Bittercress?
Wavy Bittercress can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alpine bittercress plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Wavy Bittercress Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Wavy Bittercress, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Wavy Bittercress?
Wavy Bittercress is susceptible to aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Wavy Bittercress is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Cardamine genus — compare its care with other Cardamine species on PlantoScan.
Cardamine is part of the Brassicaceae plant family — browse all Brassicaceae genera and species.
Wavy Bittercress copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
More Cardamine Species
Other Cardamine species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Cardamine flexuosa With., family Brassicaceae (first published in Arr. Brit. Pl., ed. 3. iii. 578. 1796) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Wavy Bittercress, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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