Hairy bittercress

Left unchecked, hairy bittercress can quickly spread to infest the whole garden. This weed can complete its lifecycle in three to four weeks to disperse thousands of seeds, all of which can germinate to release their own seeds in quick succession. Bittercress may be introduced as seed, seedlings or as plants in compost when buying new plants from nurseries or garden centres. It may also spread from neighbouring gardens or remain dormant at depth in the soil to be brought to the surface by cultivation. Plants are also able to overwinter.

Symptoms

Small short-lived annual plants which spread rapidly by means of small seeds dispersed from spring-like seedpods.

Find it on

freshly-cultivated ground in borders, pots, paving, walls, vegetable plots