Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket, ETC.)

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket, ETC.) on 5-1-19, #564-8.

Yellow Rocket, Bitter Wintercress, St. Barbara’s Herb, Herb Barbara, Wintercress, Bittercress, Rocketcress, Yellow Rocketcress, Wound Rocket, Creasy, Creecy, Creesy, Cressy Greens, Upland Cress

Barbarea vulgaris

(Barbarea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)

bar-BAR-ree-uh vul-GAIR-iss

**Synonyms of Barbarea vulgaris (4) (Updated on 12-2-22 from Plants of the World Online):** Barbarea barbarea MacMill. (1892)(not validly publ.), Campe vulgaris (R.Br.) Dulac (1867)(nom. illeg.), Crucifera barbaraea (L.) E.H.L.Krause (1902), Erysimum barbarea L. (1753)
**Synonyms of Barbarea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (53) (Updated on 12-2-22 from POWO):** Arabis barbarea Bernh. (1800), Barbarea abortiva Hausskn. (1886), Barbarea altaica Andrz. ex Steud. (1840), Barbarea arcuata f. brachycarpa (Rouy & Foucaud) Kuusk (1973), Barbarea arcuata f. pubescens (Busch) Kuusk (1973), Barbarea arcuata var. pubescens N.Busch (1909), Barbarea augustana Boiss. (1843), Barbarea barbarea subsp. brachycarpa (Rouy & Foucaud) Piper (1915), Barbarea barbarea var. longisiliquosa (Carion) Farw. (1913), Barbarea ceretana Sennen (1926), Barbarea croatica Borbás & Vuk. (1888), Barbarea hirsuta Weihe (1830), Barbarea iberica (Willd.) DC. (1821), Barbarea intermedia var. pyrenaica (Jord.) Gaut. (1898), Barbarea intermedia proles pyrenaica (Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud (1893), Barbarea kayseri Schur (1853), Barbarea linnaei Spenn. (1829), Barbarea lyrata Asch. (1860), Barbarea macrophylla Halácsy (1900), Barbarea praecox var. vicina (Martrin-Donos) Rouy & Foucaud (1893), Barbarea pyrenaica Jord. (1864), Barbarea rivularis Martrin-Donos (1864), Barbarea rupestris Steud. (1840), Barbarea sicula Gren. & Godr. (1847), Barbarea stolonifera Pomel (1874), Barbarea stricta Willk. (1851)(nom. illeg.), Barbarea sylvestris Jord. (1861), Barbarea vicina Martrin-Donos (1864), Barbarea vulgaris var. brachycarpa Rouy & Foucaud (1893), Barbarea vulgaris var. doellii Alef. (1866), Barbarea vulgaris lusus europaea Regel (1862), Barbarea vulgaris subvar. flore-pleno DC. (1821)(contrary to Art. 23.6. (ICN, 2012)), Barbarea vulgaris var. gracilis DC. (1821), Barbarea vulgaris f. hirsuta (Weihe) Fernald (1943), Barbarea vulgaris var. hirsuta (Weihe) Alef. (1866), Barbarea vulgaris var. longisiliquosa Carion (1865), Barbarea vulgaris var. macrophylla Halácsy (1894), Barbarea vulgaris f. plena Fernald (1943), Barbarea vulgaris subsp. pyrenaica (Jord.) Bonnier (1912), Barbarea vulgaris var. rivularis (Martrin-Donos) P.Fourn. (1936), Barbarea vulgaris subsp. rivularis (Martrin-Donos) Rothm. (1907), Barbarea vulgaris proles rivularis (Martrin-Donos) Rouy & Foucaud (1893), Barbarea vulgaris subsp. silvestris (Jord.) Bonnier (1912), Barbarea vulgaris f. stolonifera (Pomel) Maire (1967), Barbarea vulgaris var. sylvestris Fr. (unknown publication), Campe barbarea (Garsault) W.Wight (1906), Campe barbarea var. hirsuta (Weihe) House (1924), Campe rivularis (Martrin-Donos) A.Heller (1912), Eruca barbarea Lam. (1779), Erysimum lucidum Salisb. (1796), Erysimum lyratum Gilib. (1782)(opus utique oppr.), Erysimum lyrifolium Stokes (1812), Sisymbrium barbarea Crantz (1762)

Barbarea vulgaris W.T.Aiton is the accepted scientific name for the Yellow Rocket. The genus and species were named and described as such by William Townsend Aiton in the second edition of Hortus Kewensis in 1812.

Accepted Infraspecific Names (2): Barbarea vulgaris subsp. arcuata (Opiz ex J.Presl & C.Presl) Celak.,*Barbarea vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (autonym). *When an infraspecific taxon is named, an autonym (“type-specimen”) is automatically generated whose description is closest to the (original) species. All have their own list of synonyms…

Some websites and databases have the scientific name written as Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. The link to IPNI states: “Although R. Brown is considered to have authored the Brassicaceae treatment in Hortus Kew. ed. 2 (see TL-2 Suppl. III: 141; Vienna Code Art. 46.7 Ex. 29).), W. T. Aiton, the publishing author, did not mention or indicate R. Brown’s name for Brassicaceae; therefore, W. T. Aiton is author of the Brassicaceae novelties in his work.”

As of 12-2-22 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online by Kew lists 28 accepted species in the Barbarea genus. It is a member of the plant family Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) which includes 345 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

Distribution map of Barbarea vulgaris from Plants of the World Online.Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/. Retrieved on December 28, 2021.

The above distribution map of Barbara vulgaris is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native and purple where it has been introduced. The map on the USDA Plants Database for the United States and Canada is somewhat different.

The genus gets its name from St. Barbara who is the patron saint of artillerymen. The plant was once used to soothe wounds caused by explosions.

THERE ARE A FEW LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND FOR A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket) on 5-1-19, #564-9.

There are several members of the plant family Brassicaceae that look very similar from a distance. Not all have yellow flowers. Horseradish, for one, has white flowers. Some also have large edible roots.

Barbarea vulgaris is a herbaceous biennial that normally grows to around 30” in height. The first year they form a rosette of basal leaves and flower their second rear.

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket) on 5-1-19, #564-10.

USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Brassicaceae.
Origin: Eurasia and North Africa.
Zones: USDA Zones 2a-9b (-45 to 25° F).
Size: 12-24” tall. Some information says up to 36” tall.
Light: Sun to part shade.
Flowers: Yellow flowers from late spring through early fall.

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket) on 5-1-19, #564-11.

The abundant flowers, up to 1/3” across, have four petals, which have four yellow-green sepals. Flowers are replaced by a slender seed pod (siliques). Bees and other insects feed on the nectar and pollen of this plant and a few caterpillars feed on their leaves and flowers. There are also several beetle species that feed on their leaves.

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket) on 5-1-19, #564-12.

Barbarea vulgaris prefers growing in full sun, although they do grow in partly shady areas as well. They prefer growing in moist soil and dryer conditions provide less growth. Most of their growth occurs during the spring when temperatures are still cool.

Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket) on 4-17-21, #793-1.

Although their leaves are edible in the spring, they become somewhat bitter later.

There are more photos under the links below. I am planning to give this page a makeover once annual updates are made…

I live on a small farm in Windsor, Missouri where I enjoy gardening, collecting plants, and identifying wildflowers. The farm is in Pettis County but Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away. I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
WILDFLOWERSEARCH.ORG
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
INVASIVE PLANT ATLAS
THE FRIENDS OF THE WILDFLOWER GARDEN

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is the most reliable and up-to-date plant database and they make updates on a regular basis. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂