Cardamine angulata
Seaside bitter cress
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Cardamine angulata (Seaside bitter cress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by rhizome morphology and flower size.
Seaside bitter cress is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northwestern California in shady thickets, streambanks, and forest habitats at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers 8 to 15 millimeters long with delicate, broad petals. Growing with slender stems 2.5 to 8.5 decimeters tall, it emerges from a thin rhizome and features sparse to dense hairs at the base. Its compound leaves have 3 to 5 ovate to lanceolate leaflets with dentate or entire margins, with rhizome leaf petioles 4 to 12 centimeters long. The fruit is an erect to ascending pod 1.5 to 3.2 centimeters in length, bearing 6 to 16 small oblong seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; rhizome morphology and flower size are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shady thickets, streambanks, forest
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Marin, Siskiyou
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Cardamine angulata blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Raphanus: Cardamine has narrow pencil-like pods with many seeds; Raphanus has thick beaked pods that break into segments.; vs Nasturtium: Cardamine grows on moist land in shade; Nasturtium grows in or at the edge of water in sun.; vs Viola: Cardamine has four petals and thin seed pods; Viola has five petals and a capsule that splits into three parts.; vs Vancouveria: Cardamine has four-petaled flowers and seed pods; Vancouveria has six-petaled flowers and follicles.; vs Lepidium: Cardamine has narrow pods with many seeds; Lepidium has flattened round pods with only 2 seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cardamine angulata native to California?
Yes. Cardamine angulata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cardamine angulata bloom?
Cardamine angulata blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Cardamine angulata grow?
Cardamine angulata occurs in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Marin, Siskiyou, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Cardamine angulata belong to?
Cardamine angulata is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Cardamine.
Is Cardamine angulata rare or endangered?
Cardamine angulata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.