Cardamine kitaibelii aka Kitaibel's Bitter Cress

Cardamine kitaibelii is a small perennial in the cabbage family, Brassicaceae. Gardeners know it as Kitaibel's bittercress or many-leaved toothwort. Its native range covers the Alps and the Apennines. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain or Ireland. Older names include Cardamine polyphylla and Dentaria polyphylla. These names may still appear in plant lists.

This herbaceous plant spreads from fleshy rhizomes beneath the soil. It forms a bushy clump and loses its leaves seasonally. The RHS describes plants about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall. Its listed garden range reaches 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) in height and spread. Plants take two to five years to reach their full size. Divided leaves grow in whorls around the stems. New leaves have a bronze tint when they first unfold. This growth appears in late winter or early spring.

Small flower clusters open in early to mid-spring. Each flower has four petals, coloured white to pale yellow. The flowers and bronze new leaves provide interest early in the year. The plant suits cottage gardens and other informal settings. It also fits flower beds and borders with suitable shade. Plants For A Future lists it for woodland gardens and dappled shade.

Give it full or partial shade in a sheltered spot. The RHS recommends soil rich in humus that stays moist. Good drainage matters; the soil should not remain waterlogged. Loam suits it, and it accepts acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. East-, north-, and west-facing sites fit the RHS guidance. The RHS gives it an H7 hardiness rating. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Gardeners can raise it from seed or divide established plants. It needs no pruning. The RHS reports few disease problems, though aphids and flea beetles may attack it.

Plants For A Future lists both leaves and flowers as edible. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked; flowers are eaten raw. Both have a mild cabbage taste with a hint of cress. The source gives it an edible-use score of two out of five. It reports no known hazards, rather than confirming safety in every case. It lists no known medicinal or other uses. It also records no weed potential.