Herb. No. 149 · Brassicaceae
European brook mustard, now a tank crop of clean water worldwide.
Native · Europe · West Asia
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
LegalGentleplant
Watercress
Nasturtium officinale
Medicinal herbsKitchenHarvestLookalikes
The peppery brook green — a mustard that lives in clean moving water, and a Victorian breakfast plate.
Watercress is a European brook mustard, now a tank crop. The leaf is peppery, vitamin-dense, and traditional as a spring tonic. Culinary amounts are food. Wild plants in sheep country can carry Fasciola; this plate is a clean bed or a grocer’s bunch. Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum) stole the name and lives on another plate.
Flavor
Pepper, mustard, cucumber-green. Hotter than lettuce, kinder than horseradish.
Parts used
Leaf and stem
Helpful
- A true food green
- A tank crop works
Cautions
- Wild ditches
- Bolts in heat
- Aphids in still water