Cardamine trifolia
(Trifoliate Bittercress)
Family - Brassicaceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Central and Southern Europe
Season of Interest - Spring
Hardiness - H5
Height - up to 30cm
Width - 30cm
Location - The Woodland Walk
Description: A low-growing, Evergreen Perennial with a mat-forming habit. Mid to dark green leaves are trifoliate and have rounded leaflets with coarsely toothed margins. The leaves are tinted red on the undersides. Small, cross-shaped flowers are snow-white. The flowers are held in clusters atop dark, upright stems and are produced late spring into early summer. Attractive to pollinating insects.
Additional common names - Three-Leaved Cuckoo Flower, Trefoil Cress
Flower:
Small, white cruciform flowers have discreet yellow stamens. The flowers are held in clusters on dark stems and are produced in May and June. Occasionally plants can be found with pink flowers.
Flower colour: White
Flower shape: Cruciform flowers held in clusters
Flowering time: May, June
Foliage:
Mid to dark green leaves are trifoliate and have rounded leaflets with Dentate margins. The leaves are tinted red on the undersides. The leaves are mostly held at the base of the plant with fewer, smaller leaves held on the flowering stems.
Foliage Senescence: Evergreen
Foliage Shape: Trifoliate with rounded leaflets
Propagation:
Division, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in partial shade in moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.