Rorippa spp.
yellowcresses
Nearly cosmopolitan: Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Overview
Rorippa spp. is a genus of about 85 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, distributed nearly worldwide in damp and wet habitats. Plants range from a few inches to about 3 feet (10 to 90 cm) tall, with branching stems and leaves that are often deeply pinnately lobed or toothed, sometimes finely divided near the base. The small flowers have four petals in the cross-shaped pattern of the mustard family and are usually yellow, occasionally white, carried in elongating clusters at the stem tips. Bloom is followed by slender or rounded seed pods that split to release many tiny seeds. The genus grows along stream banks, pond margins, ditches, marshes, and seasonally flooded ground, and several species behave as weeds of moist, disturbed soil. A limitation for ornamental use is the weedy, short-lived nature of many species and their tendency to self-seed freely in wet ground, which makes them better suited to wetland and habitat plantings than to formal borders.
Native Range
Rorippa spp. is nearly cosmopolitan, native to wetlands and damp ground across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Several species are widespread across North America in marshes, shorelines, and wet disturbed soils, and some have spread beyond their original ranges as weeds.Suggested Uses
Rorippa spp. species are used in wetland, bog, and pond-margin plantings and in habitat and restoration schemes on wet ground. The early, long-lasting yellow flowers support small pollinators, and several species serve as larval food plants for butterflies in the mustard family.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 3'
Width/Spread6" - 2'
Bloom Information
Rorippa spp. flowers over a long season from spring through autumn, roughly April through October, with the exact timing varying by species and climate. The flower clusters lengthen as they bloom, so open flowers and developing pods appear together. Many species flower and set seed quickly in moist conditions.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Time to Maturity
1 year