Bitter Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris) is in the mustard family family (Brassicaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,552 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bitter Wintercress: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bitter Wintercress
Barbarea vulgaris, also called bittercress, herb barbara, rocketcress, yellow rocketcress, winter rocket, and wound rocket, is a biennial herb of the genus Barbarea, belonging to the mustard family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bitter Wintercress by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 192 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 180 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 162 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 158 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 106 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 94 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 88 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 66 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 64 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 58 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 58 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 47 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 36 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 33 | May | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 33 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 30 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 30 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 28 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 25 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 14 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Arkansas | 10 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 10 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Connecticut | 8 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Iowa | 8 | May | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (mustard family)
Garlic Mustard
Dame's Rocket
Annual Honesty
Cut-Leaved Toothwort
Milkmaids
Hairy Bittercress
Shepherd's-Purse
Western Wallflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bitter Wintercress?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Bitter Wintercress most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York.