Watercress
Nasturtium officinale
Watercress is a fast-growing semi-aquatic perennial in the cabbage family, with crisp dark-green leaves on sprawling, rooting stems. It naturally grows in cool, clean flowing water.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Constant; grows in running water or wet soil
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Nasturtium officinale is a semi-aquatic perennial in the Brassicaceae family, an aquatic garden herb long grown beside clean water.
It grows vigorously in cool conditions and will root readily from cuttings dropped into water, quickly forming dense floating mats.
How to identify it
- Low, sprawling, hollow stems that root at the nodes and float or creep over wet ground
- Pinnately compound, rounded dark-green leaflets with a smooth, slightly succulent texture
- Tiny four-petaled white flowers in clusters (typical cabbage-family cross shape)
- Forms dense mats in shallow, slow-moving cool water
Care & growing
Light: Full sun to partial shade; appreciates shade in hot climates.
Water: Demands constant moisture—grow in flowing water, a pot standing in a water tray, or consistently saturated soil.
Soil: Rich, slightly alkaline mud or loam; thrives in clean running streams.
Temperature: Cool-season grower (50-70°F); slows and runs to flower in summer heat.
Feeding: Little needed in fertile water; light feeding for container culture.
Propagation: Extremely easy—stem cuttings root in a glass of water within days; also from seed.
Habitat & origin
Native to Europe and Asia, watercress has naturalized across North America and much of the world, often colonizing spring-fed streams, ditches, and slow brooks with clean, cool, flowing water.
It is grown in flooded gravel beds and is easily kept at home in containers kept perpetually wet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow watercress without a stream?
Yes—set a pot in a saucer of water and keep the soil saturated, refreshing the water often to prevent stagnation.
How do I propagate watercress?
Place fresh stem cuttings in water; they root within a few days and can then be potted into wet soil.
How do I recognize watercress?
Look for sprawling hollow stems that root at the nodes, rounded dark-green compound leaflets, and small four-petaled white flowers in the typical cabbage-family cross shape.
What conditions does watercress need?
Constant moisture and cool temperatures. It thrives in clean, slow-moving flowing water or consistently saturated soil, with full sun to partial shade.
Watercress guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Watercress.
