Many gardeners consider it a weed due to its aggressive self seeding habit.

Does it need full sun?

No, it prefers partial to full shade and moist soil.

Plant guide

Wavy bittercress.

Cardamine flexuosa

Pronounced kar-DA-mi-nee flek-SOO-oh-suh

Also known as Wavy Bitter-Cress, Wavy bittercress, Woodland bittercress, bending bittercress

Wavy bittercress is a small, hardy plant often found in damp, shaded areas. It is known for its ability to spread quickly through explosive seed dispersal. You will often find it popping up as a weed in garden pots or moist soil.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual or biennial herb
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 2 to 5 days
Mature size: 12 to 30 centimeters
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Early spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural damp habitat. Watch for the seed pods, as they will scatter seeds everywhere if left to ripen. It is generally very resilient and requires little intervention.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged.
Feeding: Fertilizer is usually unnecessary as this plant thrives in most conditions.
Pruning: Remove flower heads before they form seed pods to prevent unwanted spreading.
Repotting: Repotting is rarely needed unless the plant has outgrown its container.
Soil: Moist, rich, well-draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: -15 to 25°C
Humidity: 40 to 80%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Annual or short lived perennial.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes.
Plant growth slows significantly.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non toxic but is not intended for human consumption.
Children: Keep away from small children to prevent accidental ingestion of the small seeds or foliage.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not considered a significant airborne allergen.
Edibility: While not highly toxic, it is not commonly consumed and may cause stomach upset.

How to identify it

Small white four petaled flowers
Pinnately compound leaves with wavy edges
Zigzagging stems that grow low
Slender seed pods that explode

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.25m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.3 to 0.5cm
Fruit: green, brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

Aphids · Small insects that cluster on new growth and flower stalks.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It usually survives winter as a low rosette of leaves. No special protection is needed in most climates.
In containers: It grows well in containers but is rarely used this way due to its tendency to spread.

Seed

Collect seeds from dry pods in late summer.
Scatter seeds directly onto moist soil in autumn.
Keep the area consistently damp until germination.

Plant it in areas where you want a naturalized ground cover, but be prepared to pull it if it spreads too far.

Grows well with

Hosta · They share similar shade and moisture requirements.
Ferns · They provide a nice textural contrast in woodland settings.

Similar species

Hairy Bittercress · It is a very close relative with similar growth habits.

Science

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Cardamine
Order: Brassicales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Temperate regions of Europe and Asia.
Conservation: This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It colonizes disturbed, damp ground by producing vast quantities of seeds that spread easily.

Value to wildlife: early nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, woodland garden filler

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 3/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a weed?: Many gardeners consider it a weed due to its aggressive self seeding habit.
Does it need full sun?: No, it prefers partial to full shade and moist soil.

Where the name comes from

Cardamine comes from the Greek word for cress, while flexuosa refers to the wavy or zigzag nature of its stems.

Good to know

It is often called wavy bittercress because of its zig zag stem.
The seeds are ejected explosively when the pods are touched.
It thrives in damp, shady spots where other plants struggle.

Keep your wavy bittercress growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.