Despite its name, Hairy Bitter-cress is not a hairy plant. The flowers have 4 stamens, which distinguish it from Wavy Bitter-cress. It is a small annual of cultivated and waste ground, paths and walls, and spreads rapidly using its explosive elongated pods to disperse seeds. It is particularly irritating as a garden weed: starting from its basal rosette of leaves, it can flower and set seed very quickly before the gardener notices.