Cardamine pentaphyllos aka Five Leaflet Bitter Cress

Cardamine pentaphyllos, or showy toothwort, belongs to the cabbage family, Brassicaceae. Its native range runs from France to Slovenia. It grows in temperate regions, and records place it in mountain habitats. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Older names include Dentaria digitata and Dentaria pentaphyllos. These names may appear in plant lists and garden records.

This herbaceous perennial grows as a leafy clump. Its garden height ranges from about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Its spread falls within the same range. Plants take about two to five years to reach full size. The leaves are pinnate, and the foliage is deciduous. Upright stems carry short racemes above the leaves. Flowers may be pale purple or white. They open in spring and continue into early summer. This gives the plant a spring-to-early-summer role in shaded beds.

Choose a site in full or partial shade. Keep the soil moist, but allow excess water to drain. The plant does not suit waterlogged ground. RHS lists chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It also accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. A wide choice of soil pH therefore need not limit placement. RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H5. This covers winter lows of about 5–14°F [−15 to −10°C]. The rating applies to UK growing conditions.

Use it in informal beds, cottage gardens or rock gardens. It also suits planting beneath roses and shrubs. Woodland gardens and sites with dappled shade offer other settings. Its modest size fits the lower layer of a planting. Divide established plants to make more, or raise them from seed. The plant needs no pruning. RHS reports few disease problems, though aphids can attack it. PFAF does not flag it as a weed.

PFAF lists the leaves and flowers as edible. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw leaves have a bitter, cabbage-like taste with a radish note. Cooking may make them more pleasant to eat. The flowers can be eaten raw and have a similar taste. PFAF gives the plant an edibility score of two out of five. It reports no known hazards, but this is not a complete safety assessment. The same source lists no known medicinal or other uses.