Peltaria alliacea aka Garlic Cress

Peltaria alliacea belongs to the cabbage family, Brassicaceae. Its common names include shieldwort and garlic cress. Its native range runs from eastern Austria to Romania. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows in a temperate climate, on hills and in woods. Kew classes it as a subshrub. Plants For A Future describes it as an evergreen perennial.

The plant reaches about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall and wide. Its leaves stay green through much of the year. They can remain lush even through a hard winter. Crushed leaves release a strong garlic smell. This scent can linger on the hands after handling. The plant spreads slowly and can form ground cover. Once established, its cover helps keep weeds down.

Flowers appear in June, and seeds ripen in August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Plants may lose their leaves for one or two months while flowering. Cutting back the flower stems encourages fresh leaf growth. The flowers are edible raw and taste much like the leaves. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Their strong taste blends garlic and mustard notes. Small amounts can add spice to a salad.

Leaf crops are best from autumn through spring. Summer leaves may turn bitter, especially in dry, sunny sites. This makes the plant useful for winter salad harvests. It also suits woodland edges, dappled shade, and ground-cover planting. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards or medicinal uses. That hazard report does not establish safety for pets. The supplied sources give no specific pest or disease problems.

Grow it in fertile, light soil that holds some moisture. Sandy and loamy soils both suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Choose sun or light shade, and keep the soil moist. It tolerates neglect and needs little care under suitable conditions. Plants For A Future gives USDA zones 5–9 and UK zone 6. The latter is not an RHS hardiness rating. Sow seed in a cold frame in spring or autumn. Seeds sprout quickly, and seedlings can move outside in summer. Division offers another way to raise more plants. Spring and autumn suit division, but moist soil allows other times. Keep winter divisions in a greenhouse until late spring.