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Hairy Bitter Cress is one of several weedy plants in the Mustard family that is native to Eurasia. It closely resembles several other species in the Mustard family, including Sibara virginica (Virginia Rock Cress), Cardamine parviflora arenicola (Small-Flowered Bitter Cress), Cardamine pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Bitter Cress), and Cardamine flexuosa (Wavy Bitter Cress). Unlike Small-Flowered Bitter Cress and Pennsylvania Bitter Cress, Hairy Bitter Cress has hairy petioles (particularly the basal) and the base of its flowering stalk is often hairy. Unlike Virginia Rock Cress, it has basal leaflets that are about as long as across (orbicular, oval) and its seeds lack winged margins. Unlike Wavy Bitter Cress, it has persistent basal leaves and a flowering stalk that becomes hairless above the bottom portion. The flowers of Hairy Bitter Cress have 4 stamens, while the flowers of Wavy Bitter Cress have 6 stamens. All of these plants are winter annuals or biennials.