About

Cardamine quinquefolia is a herbaceous perennial that can reach heights of up to 30 cm. It features five-lobed green foliage and produces clusters of numerous pink-lilac blooms starting in early spring. The leaves will wither by early summer, but the plant offers effective ground cover during its active growth period.

About the genus

Cardamine consists of herbaceous perennials characterized by their straightforward, palmately or pinnately divided foliage. In spring or summer, they produce short racemes bearing flowers with four petals, which can be white, yellow, pink, or purplish in hue.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full shade, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.5-1 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden
Native to
E Europe, Iran

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in partial shade below deciduous trees or shrubs in a border or woodland garden in humus-rich soil; will grow in moist soil and tolerate dry soil
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by seed in autumn or spring, or by division in spring
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to flea beetles and aphids but generally pest free
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free