(Cardaria draba)
Description
- Native to Europe and Asia.
- Long-lived perennial.
- In the Mustard family.
- White flowers, with four petals.
- Requires full sun and moderately moist to dry soil.
- Deep vertical taproots and horizontal, rhizomatous roots.
- Reproduces by seed (1000 to over 4000 per plant) and roots.
- Found in the Columbia Gardens, Warfield and Rossland area.
Consequences of invasion
- Invades rangelands and pastures, impacting livestock.
- Livestock will not eat hoary cress.
- Milk and meat can be tainted if the plant is eaten by stock, condition persists for a week.
- Highly competitive, outcompetes native vegetation in rangelands.
- Decreases crop yields.
Integrated Pest Management Options
- Pull or dig small infestations when soil is moist.
- Proper pasture and rangeland management, minimizing soil disturbance and overgrazing.
- Chemical control may work on larger infestations.