Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Spring Cress
(Bulbous Cress)
Cardamine bulbosa
[C-value
6]
Mustard family (Brassicaceae)
Blooms mid-April -
May
The native Spring Cress is common in our area. It prefers partial sun or dappled sunlight and wet to moist conditions. Habitats include low woodlands along rivers, damp depressions in rocky bluffs, woodland seeps, springs and damp meadows. This perennial is ½–1½' tall with an erect stem that is unbranched or sparingly branched toward the apex where the inflorescence occurs. There are both basal leaves (up to 1¼" long and 1" across) and alternate leaves up to 2" long and 1" across. The central stem terminates in a raceme of flowers with 4 white petals with rounded tips.
Spring Cress at Lyon Forest Preserve lower fen May 7. 2015
Spring Cress at Lyon Forest Preserve lower fen May 7. 2015
Spring Cress foliage at Lyon Forest Preserve upper fen May 7. 2015
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