Hairy Bittercress

Every year there’s a new invader / volunteer / edible weed that takes the show. I’m unsure if that is actually the case or if they’ve always been there & I’ve just never noticed them. However the list of wild edibles taking up residence in my wild garden seems to grow every season.

Hairy Bittercress begins as a low rosette of bright green, rounded leaflets arranged in pairs along a thin stalk. Come spring, it sends up slender stems topped with tiny white four-petalled flowers, each barely the size of a match head. These give way to thin upright seed pods, which once ripe, burst open flinging seeds in all directions. This explosive seed strategy explains why bittercress can so quickly scatter through gardens, cracks in paving stones, and freshly turned beds.

Look closely, and you’ll see the faint covering of tiny hairs on the leaves that give it its name. While subtle, these hairs help distinguish it from other lookalikes like Cardamine flexuosa (Wavy Bittercress) or Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).

Once you’ve identified it, taste it! Hairy Bittercress is far too good to waste on the compost pile. The leaves, stems, flowers, and even young seed pods are edible. The flavour is mild but peppery, like a delicate cross between cress and mustard greens.

~ Sprinkle the fresh leaves on sandwiches instead of rocket.

~ Add it to salads for a mild bite.

~ Use it as a vibrant garnish for soups or egg dishes.

~ Blitz it into pesto with garlic, nuts, and good olive oil.

~ Fold it through potato salad or stir into a wild herb butter.

Because the plant is so small, it’s best harvested young and whole, snip a handful, rinse, and toss straight into your next meal.

Like many wild brassicas, Hairy Bittercress is rich in vitamins A & C & minerals like calcium and magnesium, valuable especially in late winter and early spring when fresh greens are scarce.

Traditionally, bittercress and its cousins have been used as a gentle spring tonic. The slight bitterness stimulates digestion and supports liver and kidney function, helping to “wake up” the body after a sluggish winter diet.

To learn more about wild edible weeds you can book into an upcoming Foraging Workshop or check out my Foraging Guides & Online Foraging Course.