Does it need a lot of water?

Yes, it thrives in consistently moist to wet soil.

Can I grow it in full sun?

It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays very moist.

Guide botanique

Cuckooflower.

Cardamine pratensis

Prononciation kar-DA-mi-nee pra-TEN-sis

Aussi appelée Cuckoo Flower, Cuckooflower, European field bittercress, Mayflower, Milk-Maids

The cuckooflower is a lovely perennial that thrives in damp meadows and woodland edges. It produces delicate clusters of pale pink or white flowers in the spring. You will often see it blooming when the cuckoo bird returns to the countryside.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Facile
Type de plante: Perennial herb
Lumière: Partial shade to full sun
Lumière en intérieur: Lumière vive indirecte
Arrosage: Tous les 3 à 7 jours
Taille adulte: 15 to 45 centimeters
Croissance: Moyenne
Rusticité: USDA 3 à 8
Floraison: Mid to late spring

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural damp meadow habitat. Watch for wilting leaves which signal the plant is drying out too much. It prefers cooler temperatures and will naturally go dormant after flowering.

Arrosage: Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged at all times.
Engrais: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.
Taille: Trim back faded flower stalks to keep the plant tidy.
Rempotage: Refresh the soil every year or two to ensure it stays nutrient rich.
Sol: Moist, rich, well-draining soil
pH du sol: Neutral to slightly acidic
Température: -20 à 25°C
Humidité: 50 à 80%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Faible
Durée de vie: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Moyenne

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot

Sécurité

Humains: The plant is generally considered non toxic but should be consumed in moderation due to potential mustard oil content.
Enfants: The plant is not considered dangerous, but small children should always be supervised when exploring garden plants.
Comestibilité: While the leaves are edible, they can be bitter and should be harvested before the plant flowers.

Comment l'identifier

Four delicate pale pink petals
Compound leaves with small leaflets
Slender stems reaching upward
Grows in moist grassy areas

Hauteur: 0,2 à 0,5m
Envergure: 0,15 à 0,3m
Feuilles: green, deciduous
Fleurs: white, pale pink, lilac, 1 à 2cm
Fruits: green, brown, Summer

Problèmes courants

Aphids — Small insects that cluster on new growth and flower buds.

La cultiver

Multiplication: seed, cuttings, division
Quand planter: spring, autumn
Hivernage: The plant dies back to a basal rosette in winter. Simply clear away dead debris in early spring to allow new growth to emerge.
En pot: It grows well in containers if kept in a consistently moist, boggy potting mix.

Seed

1. Collect seeds in late summer once pods turn brown.
2. Sow immediately in moist soil.
3. Keep the soil consistently damp until germination.

Leaf Cuttings

1. Place a healthy leaf flat on moist soil.
2. Ensure the leaf makes good contact with the surface.
3. Keep in a humid, shaded spot until plantlets form.

Group this plant with other moisture loving species to create a thriving bog garden ecosystem.

Bonnes associations

Marsh marigold — They share similar requirements for wet, boggy soil conditions.
Myosotis scorpioides — They provide a lovely color contrast in damp garden areas.

Espèces similaires

Cardamine hirsuta — It is a related species that often appears as a weed in similar environments.

Science

Famille: Brassicaceae
Genre: Cardamine
Ordre: Brassicales
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Région d'origine: Temperate regions of Europe and Western Asia.
Préservation: It is not currently threatened, but it is declining in some areas due to the drainage of wet meadows.

It thrives in damp meadows and along stream banks where it can easily spread via its root system.

Intérêt pour la faune: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinisateurs: abeilles, papillons
Utilisations: groundcover, wildflower meadow, edible garnish

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 1/9
Réaction du sol: 6/9
Lumière: 5/9
Température: 4/9
Humidité: 8/9
Nutriments: 5/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Does it need a lot of water?: Yes, it thrives in consistently moist to wet soil.
Can I grow it in full sun?: It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays very moist.

D'où vient le nom

The name Cardamine comes from the Greek word for cress, while pratensis means of the meadows.

Bon à savoir

It is commonly known as cuckoo flower because it blooms when the cuckoo bird returns.
The leaves are rich in vitamin C.
It can reproduce vegetatively when leaves touch the ground.

Ta plante a mauvaise mine ?

Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.

Télécharger l'appli

Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.