Barbarea stricta aka Small Flowered Winter Cress

Barbarea stricta is a herb in the cabbage family, Brassicaceae. People call it small-flowered winter-cress or upright yellow-rocket. Its native range spans much of Europe and Asia. It grows in Scandinavia and central Europe. The range also takes in Russia and Siberia. It includes Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Xinjiang in China too. RHS does not list it as native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant grows as a biennial or a perennial herb. It can thus live for two years or more. PFAF lists it as a biennial in its main account. It reaches about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres] in height. Its spread reaches about 1.3 feet [0.4 metres]. It stays fairly small but grows at a fast rate. The name stricta refers to an upright or stiff form. People often confuse this species with Barbarea vulgaris. Take care when naming plants for food or garden records.

In the Northern Hemisphere, it flowers from June to July. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. Records show food uses for both flowers and leaves. You can grow new plants from seed. The supplied species sources give no detailed leaf or fruit account. The RHS page covers these traits for the wider genus only. Those broad traits do not show this species' exact form.

Wild sites include stony lake edges and gravel beside rivers. It also grows along sea shores and in ditches. It grows on damp paths, roadsides, meadows, and waste ground too. It likes soil rich in nitrogen and can grow on kelp banks. In gardens, give it sun rather than shade. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Soil can range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Keep the soil moist or wet. PFAF lists USDA zones 3–10 and says it withstands frost.

Its recorded uses centre on leaves and flowers as food. PFAF gives its food value two points out of five. Plants from polluted water may carry germs that cause illness. The source names Giardia as one such risk. This risk comes from tainted plants, not a stated plant poison. PFAF reports no known hazards from the plant itself. It lists no medicinal uses, other uses, or weed potential. The supplied sources give no pest or disease account for this species.