Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Winter-cress: when and how to prune
Barbarea vulgaris
Winter-cress is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Flowering | April–June |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Winter-cress: when to prune it?
In June, after flowering: cut off most spent stems and let a few ripen.
What else to prune in those months? June
Winter-cress: how to prune it?
- In June, cut most spent stems back to just above the rosette: this limits self-sowing, and the plant often lives another year.
- Leave a few stems until the pods turn brown, so that new plants appear.
- Watch out for orange-tip caterpillars, which sit on the young pods in May–June: leave a few flowering stems alone until they have gone.
- Put the cuttings in a rough corner or on the compost heap.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: June.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Winter-cress · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.