Garden cress (Lepidium sativum, Sp. pl. 2:644. 1753)

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 2:644. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Lepidium

Vegetable: True

Observations: Europe to C. Asia and Himalaya, Arabian Pen.

Description

Garden cress, scientifically known as Lepidium sativum, is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. This fast-growing plant is widely recognized for its peppery, tangy flavor and is a popular addition to salads, sandwiches, and garnishes. Garden cress has a rich history and diverse origins, spanning from Europe to Central Asia and the Himalayan region, as well as the Arabian Peninsula.

Thoroughly adapted to various climatic conditions, garden cress thrives in temperate climates where it can be cultivated both indoors and outdoors. Its rapid growth cycle allows it to mature quickly, often ready for harvest in just a few weeks from sowing. This practical trait makes it a favored choice among gardeners and commercial cultivators alike.

The plant features slender, hollow stems with finely divided leaves that resemble those of parsley. When in full bloom, garden cress produces small, white, or pinkish flowers arranged in racemes. These flowers eventually lead to the formation of tiny, pod-like fruits filled with seeds. These seeds are not only vital for propagation but are also utilized for their health benefits and oil production.

Garden cress has been recorded in historical texts and literature for over a millennium, with mentions and uses dating back to ancient civilizations. Its medicinal properties were well-regarded in traditional herbal medicine, credited with providing various health benefits such as aiding digestion, acting as a diuretic, and possessing anti-inflammatory properties.

In contemporary cuisine, garden cress is cherished for its distinctive flavor that adds an extra zing to culinary creations. Its practical ease of cultivation, coupled with its nutritional benefits, makes it a versatile herb that continues to be a staple in kitchens and gardens around the world.

Common Names

Dan: askebladet løn, bjerg-hemlok, canadisk hemlock, grön douglasgran, have-karse
Swe: asklönn, berghemlock, grön douglasgran, hemlock, hybrididegran, smörgåskrasse, kryddkrasse, kryddkrassing
Fra: cresson alénois, cresson des jardins, lépidie cultivée, passerage cultivé
Eng: garden cress, gardencress pepperweed, pepperwort, tongue cress, town cress, garden peppergrass, cultivated cress, garden cress pepperweed, garden pepperwort
Deu: garten-kresse, gartenkresse
Lit: sėjamoji pipirnė
Ita: agretto, crescione inglese
Spa: agriao-moiro, berro de huerta
Por: agrião, agrião-mouro, mastruço
Lav: d
Ara: habb al-rashad, rashad
Ell: kardama, kardamo
Hun: kerti zsázsa
Fin: saarnivaahtera
Est: salatkress
Ces: řeřicha setá, žerucha siata
Nld: tuinkers
Sme: gilvvakrássa
Cym: berwr ffrengig, berwr gardd, berwr yr ardd, pupurlys yr ardd
En: Garden cress, Pepperwort, Town cress, Tongue cress, Gardencress pepperweed, Tongue-grass, Water Cress, GARDEN PEPPERWORT, Camcuruih, ЦIуьлуьк, Garden peppergrass, Cultivated Cress, Garden cress pepperweed, Cress, Upland Cress, Curled Cress, Garden Pepper-grass, Garden pepperweed
Af: Waterkers
Am: ፌጦ
Ar: Rashad, Habb al-rashad, حب الرشاد (حَب الرشاد), رشاد (رَشاد)، جنب (جِنَب), ملوه (مِلْوه), Hab al-rashad, رشاد مزروع, Thifa, ثفاء, ثِفَاء, رشاد, رَشَاد
Hy: Կոտեմ
Az: Vəzəri-bozalaq
Be: Клапоўнік пасяўны
Bn: হালিম শাক
Bs: Obična grbaštica
Bg: Кресон
Ca: Morritort, Morritort ver
Zh: Jia du xing cai, 水芹
Kw: Beler lowarth
Cs: Řeřicha setá, Žerucha siata
Da: Have-Karse, Karse, Askebladet løn, Bjerg-hemlok, Canadisk hemlock, Grön douglasgran
Nl: Tuinkers
Eo: Ĝardenkreso
Et: Salatkress
Fi: Vihanneskrassi, Saarnivaahtera
Fr: Cresson alénois, Cresson des jardins, Lépidie cultivée, Passerage cultivé, Passerage cultivée
Ff: Lapsur
Ka: Წიწმატი
De: Gartenkresse, Garten-Kresse
El: Κάρδαμο, Kardama, Kardamo
Gu: અશેળિયો
He: שחליים תרבותיים
Hu: Kerti zsázsa
Is: Garðperla, Karsi
Ga: Biolar gairdín
It: Crescione inglese, Agretto, Lepidio ortense, Nasturzio ortense, Crescione di giardino, Crescione, Masturzio ortense
Kn: ಕುರ್ತಿಗೆ
Kk: Кресс салат
Ko: 큰다닥냉이
Lv: D
Lt: Sėjamoji pipirnė
Lb: Cresson
Mk: Добрејка
Ml: ആശാളി
Mr: अहाळीव
Ne: चम्सुर
Se: Gilvvakrássa
No: Matkarse
Oc: Anitòrt
Os: Дудгæ
Fa: شاهی
Pl: Rzeżucha, Pieprzyca siewna
Pt: Agrião, Mastruço, Agrião-mouro
Qu: Willk’uyuyu
Ro: Creson
Ru: Кресс-салат
Sk: Žerucha záhradná
Es: Berro de huerta, Lepido, Agriao-moiro, Berro picante, Mastuerzo, Berro alenois, Nastuerzo hortense
Sv: Smörgåskrasse, Asklönn, Berghemlock, Grön douglasgran, Hemlock, Hybrididegran, Kryddkrasse, Kryddkrassing
Te: ఆడలవిటల
Th: เทียนแดง
Tr: Bahçe Teresi, Tere
Uk: Кресс-салат
Ur: ہالوں
Cy: Pupurlys yr ardd, Berwr Ffrengig, Berwr Gardd, Berwr yr Ardd

Synonyms

• Lepidium spinescens (DC.)
• Thlaspi nasturtium (Bergeret ex Steud.)
• Lepidium sativum subsp. spinescens ((DC.) Thell.)
• Nasturtium spinescens ((DC.) Kuntze)
• Thlaspi sativum ((L.) Crantz)
• Lepidium sativum var. latifolium (DC.)
• Lepidium sativum var. schimperi (Thell.)
• Arabis chinensis (Rottler ex Wight)
• Lepidium sativum var. silvestre (Thell.)
• Lepidium sativum var. vulgare (Alef.)
• Crucifera nasturtium (E.H.L.Krause)
• Lepidium sativum var. triplocrispum (Alef.)
• Lepidium sativum var. australe (Alef.)
• Lepidium sativum var. crispum ((Medik.) DC.)
• Lepidium sativum var. pallidum (Alef.)
• Thlaspidium sativum ((L.) Spach)
• Lepia sativa ((L.) Desv.)
• Nasturtium crispum (Medik.)
• Cardamon sativum ((L.) Fourr.)
• Nasturtium hortense (Garsault)
• Lepidium sativum var. spinescens ((DC.) Jafri)
• Nasturtium sativum ((L.) Moench)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Austria (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Egypt (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Niger (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Northwest Territorie (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Qinghai (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jul 22, 2020 by Ghislaine Declève (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2022 by Veloria Cuevas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2020 by Philipp Gran (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2020 by Philipp Gran (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 9, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Feb 5, 2022 by Díez Antonio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2021 by Angelika Block (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2022 by Ghislain Devaux (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2021 by Benjamin Kaiser (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 7, 2020 by Sylvie Powaga (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Apr 13, 2022 by Roufaida elghobashy Roufaida elghobashy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2021 by pierre de schryver (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by F. C. (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2022 by Metehan Kanmaz (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken May 17, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Stephane BLANPAIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 22, 2020 by Ghislaine Declève (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 17, 2020 by S M (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Pierre CROUZET (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Bark

Taken Feb 21, 2020 by lore petit (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2018 by alex (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2020 by Kira Duringson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5376565)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:138141-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lepidium sativum L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 9

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’]

Soil nutriments: 6