Nasturtium officinale — watercress
Nasturtium officinale, the true watercress, is a fast-growing semi-aquatic perennial famed for its crisp, peppery leaves and remarkable nutritional richness. A leafy member of the cabbage family, it is the botanical name behind our watercress range, sitting in both our culinary herb collection and our fresh leafy greens.
History & origin
Watercress is native to Europe and Asia, where it grows wild in clear, flowing streams and spring-fed waters. It is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables: the Greeks and Romans prized it as a tonic and a sharpener of the wits, and by the nineteenth century it was being farmed commercially in spring-fed beds to feed the growing cities of Europe.
Despite its common name, true watercress belongs to the genus Nasturtium in the cabbage family (Brassicaceae) — not to be confused with the unrelated garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum) — and the epithet officinale marks its long history as a useful, medicinal plant.
Botanical characteristics
Watercress is a low, sprawling perennial that roots readily along its trailing stems, with rounded, deep green leaflets and small white four-petalled flowers typical of the cabbage family. Its hallmark is a fresh, peppery bite and a famously high content of vitamins and minerals. Naturally a waterside plant, it sits among our leafy greens and grows neatly in pots with our container-friendly herbs.
Growing Nasturtium officinale from seed
The secret to watercress is constant moisture. Sow the fine seed on the surface of wet compost and never let it dry out — standing pots in a tray of water works perfectly. It prefers cool conditions and partial shade, which keep the leaves mild and stop it bolting. Harvest by snipping the tops, and plants regrow for repeated cut-and-come-again pickings. Our herb growing guide and herb sowing calendar cover timing and care in full.
Ready to grow watercress? Explore the varieties or learn the basics first.
Related categories: Watercress · Fresh Leafy Greens · Culinary Herbs · Container Herbs · All Herb Seeds
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