loading

Nasturtium officinale

common watercress (syn Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum)

Product Image
Watercress, akin to kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, boasts a peppery flavour and thrives in gently flowing water, forming lush mats of nutritious foliage. Ideal for moist, sunlit spots, it can also be cultivated in water-filled containers to prolong its growing season. This fast-growing aquatic perennial forms dense mats of both floating and submerged stems that creates habitat for shallow water organisms. Its oval, wavy-edged leaves, rich in dark green hues, make Nasturtium officinale a popular choice for salads, complemented by delicate white flowers that bloom from late spring to midsummer.

How to care for Nasturtium officinale:

If using as a boggy/marginal aquatic, plant out in reliably moist or boggy soil, or pot up into a pond basket and place at the margins of a pond at a depth of 0-7cm (0-3"). Watercress prefers reliably wet soil so dot allow to dry out. Harvest/prune during the growing season once established. Choose our 9cm pot range for planting above the waterline, or our aquatic pot range for at below the water's surface.
Flowering period:
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Eventual height:
0.2m
Eventual spread:
1m
Position:

Full sun / light shade

Rate of growth:

Fast-growing

Soil:

Aquatic / Reliably damp or boggy

Hardiness:

Fully hardy

  • InformationThis perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

Product options

Add to basket
Product options image
PL30007306
3 × 9cm pots
£27.99 £9.33 each
Delivery by trusted supplier within 1 week
Remove Add
Product options image
PL30007432
3 × 1 litre pots
£39.99 £13.33 each
available to order from summer
Delivery options (pick your preferred option at checkout)
Standard delivery Standard Delivery£5.95

Goes well with

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year