True Watercress Seeds (Nasturtium officinale) – Peppery Aquatic Herb, Culinary & Medicinal, Perennial Zones 5–11

True Watercress – Nasturtium officinale

True Watercress is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in the world — a crisp, peppery aquatic herb prized since Roman times across Europe and Asia for its bold flavor and remarkable nutritional density. Rich in Vitamins A and C, its dark green, small, succulent leaves have a pleasantly sharp, mustard-like heat that perks up salads, sandwiches, soups, pestos, and stir-fries. Harvest the young leaves and stems before flowering for the best flavor; once blooms appear, the leaves turn bitter.

In Asia — particularly China, Japan, and Southeast Asia — watercress is a beloved soup green, often used as the star ingredient in simple clear broths with garlic, onion, and spices. Given consistently moist conditions, it's a hardy perennial that can produce year-round in the right climate.

Herb Details

• Latin Name: Nasturtium officinale
• Type: Hardy Perennial (Zones 5–11)
• Height: 12–24 inches
• Flavor: Peppery, crisp, slightly spicy — milder before flowering
• Days to Maturity: ~50–60 days
• Germination: 7–14 days at 50–60°F
• Planting Season: Late spring/early fall
• Best Use: Salads, soups, sandwiches, pesto, stir-fries, garnish
• Seeds/oz: ~133,000

Growing Instructions

• Sow seeds ¼" deep, ½" apart; thin to 9–12" apart.
• Prefers partial shade and consistently moist to wet soil — pH 6.5–7.5.
• Direct sow in spring after last frost or in early fall, in rows or by broadcasting.
• Thrives in containers: sit pots in pans of water, renewing daily. Excellent in water gardens, stream edges, cold frames, and bogs.
• Start indoors if desired; transplant to rich, humus-rich, well-limed soil.

Harvesting

• Harvest stems 8–10" long by cutting with scissors at soil level.
• Never harvest more than one-third of any plant at a time to ensure regrowth.
• Harvest before flowers appear for best, least bitter flavor.
• White flowers in mid-summer are attractive to bees and beneficial insects.

Medicinal Uses

Long used in herbal medicine for sore throats and sinus congestion, watercress is exceptionally rich in vitamins and minerals. Also known as water rocket, water radish, and hedge mustard.

Select your desired seed quantity above. Perennial in Zones 5–11.