American Yellow Rocket is a biennial or short-lived perennial flowering herb in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) native to western North America and found naturally on the banks of streams, swamps, wetland or riparian areas or forests. It is also found in scattered locations in MI, ME and NH. The genus name Barbarea derives from Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, as this plant in the past was used to soothe the wounds caused by explosions. American Yellow Rocket grows best in moist conditions with sun or light shade in slightly acidic, well-drained soil. It does well in rocky or gravelly soils. It will grow 1-3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Propagation is by seeds. The small golden yellow flowers occur in small clusters at the end of stems from May to June. The basal leaves are larger than the stem leaves. The fruit is straight and narrow up to 2 inches long. The leaves can be eaten in moderation raw or cooked, and the roots can have a horseradish-like flavor. The plant has a stout taproot making it difficult to transplant once mature. Use this plant in a rock, native, pollinator or edible garden. It will not do well in the southeast. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: See pests of crucifers ti the left.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire; Lobed; Undulate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The basal leaves are alternate and deeply lobed. They grow up to 2.5 inches long and 1 inch wide. The Leaves get small as they ascend the stem. Margins are lobed, sometimes wavy and may have a few teeth or be entire.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/4 inch wide 4 petaled yellow flowers have 4 greenish-yellow sepals and grow in small clusters at the tips of branches and also in leaf axils. Blooms May to June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Siliqua
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The slender pods are up to 2 inches long and dry to reveal seeds. They can be straight or curved and erect to ascending.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Purple-green streaks or stripes, single or multiple from the base of the plant, smooth, ridged or angled.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Western and mid-western USA
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , NH , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WI , WY Canada: NB
Wildlife value
Butterflies, skippers, and moths are known to feed on this plant.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Siliqua
Edibility
The leaves are edible, raw or cooked, with a hot, cress-like flavor. There is some evidence that it can impact kidney function.