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Blister Cress Wikimedia Commons
Brassicaceae

Blister Cress

Erysimum cheiranthoides

Resilience amid adversity.

Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Erysimum
Native to
Europe, Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
annual herb
Height
0.5-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
Well-drained, average
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-9
Lifespan
annual

Did you know

  • The common name comes from the plant's historical use in poultices that could cause skin blisters.
  • Blister cress contains cardiac glycosides similar to those found in foxglove.
  • It is one of the fastest-growing members of the mustard family, completing its life cycle in weeks.
  • The plant is an important food source for the caterpillars of the orange-tip butterfly.
  • Blister cress has naturalized across North America and is now found in all 50 US states.

Color meanings

0

persistence

1

toughness

Uses

  • traditional medicine
  • wildlife habitat
  • companion planting