How much sun does Lesser Swine-cress need?

Lesser Swine-cress grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Lesser Swine-cress bloom?

Lesser Swine-cress blooms in March, April, and May.

What pollinators does Lesser Swine-cress attract?

Lesser Swine-cress draws bees and flies.

Is Lesser Swine-cress HOA-friendly?

Lesser Swine-cress takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Lesser Swine-cress

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Coronopus didymus

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Lesser Swine-cress (Coronopus didymus) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

4"–12" H × 4"–12" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Pollinators

bees, flies

Native alternatives to Lesser Swine-cress

Lesser Swine-cress is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.

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Lesser swine-cress is a low-growing annual weed that forms small rosettes with deeply divided leaves and tiny white flowers. This non-native plant typically appears in disturbed soils and along pathways during spring months. It has a somewhat scraggly appearance and is generally considered undesirable in cultivated landscapes.

In an HOA neighborhood

Lesser Swine-cress takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Considered a weedy species
Irregular growth pattern looks unkempt
Non-native annual with poor aesthetic value

Wildlife value

Provides minor nectar sources for small bees and flies during its spring blooming period.

Common questions

How much sun does Lesser Swine-cress need?: Lesser Swine-cress grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Lesser Swine-cress bloom?: Lesser Swine-cress blooms in March, April, and May.
What pollinators does Lesser Swine-cress attract?: Lesser Swine-cress draws bees and flies.
Is Lesser Swine-cress HOA-friendly?: Lesser Swine-cress takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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