Brown Watercress (Nasturtium x sterile)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −23.3 °C

Cultivation

Watercress is easily grown when given the correct conditions of slowly flowing clean water, preferably coming from chalky or limestone soils. Hardy to about -15°c. Brown watercress is often cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties. This is a sterile hybrid, so does not form seed. It has been produced in the wild by natural hybridisation between the diploid species N. officinale and the triploid N. microphyllum. The flowers are a rich source of pollen and so are very attractive to bees.

Propagation

Cuttings can be taken at any time in the growing season. Virtually any part of the plant, including a single leaf, will form roots if detached from the parent plant. Just put it in a container of water until the roots are well formed and then plant out in shallow water.

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked.

Medicinal uses

Watercress is very rich in vitamins and minerals, and has long been valued as a food and medicinal plant. The leaves are antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, purgative, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic, stimulant and stomachic.

Material uses

The juice of the plant is a nicotine solvent and is used as such on strong tobaccos.