Flower profile
Bitter wintercress
Barbarea vulgaris
Bitter wintercress is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Pennsylvania it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Pennsylvania
Quick look
Barbarea vulgaris, called wintercress, or alternatively winter rocket, rocketcress, yellow rocketcress, yellow rocket, wound rocket, herb barbara, creases, or creasy greens, is a biennial herb of the genus Barbarea, belonging to the family Brassicaceae.
- It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 43 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Pennsylvania. NatureServe
- In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,557 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #81 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
Bitter wintercress gift ideas
Handmade bitter wintercress gifts from independent makers.
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Bitter wintercress art print
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Bitter wintercress greeting card
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Bitter wintercress mug
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Bitter wintercress earrings
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Bitter wintercress embroidery pattern
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Bitter wintercress sticker
When does it bloom?
In Pennsylvania, most flowering sightings come in April–May.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Pennsylvania
- Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: leaves. Symptoms they list: “Consuming quantities of leaves can affect kidney function.” They also note: “Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, but there is some evidence that it can impact kidney function.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Yellowrocket” (Barbarea vulgaris) lists it as toxic to horses, but non-toxic to dogs and cats. Signs include: Gastrointestinal irritation, colic Credit: Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records bitter wintercress in 43 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, York.
More Pennsylvania flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile BAVU.
- iNaturalist, Barbarea vulgaris: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Barbarea vulgaris (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Noxious Weed List (3 Pa.C.S. § 1519, PA Dept. of Agriculture) (PDA's page spells garlic mustard “Allaria petiolata”; we match it as Alliaria petiolata).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Barbarea vulgaris (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.