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Garden Cress Wikimedia Commons
Brassicaceae

Garden Cress

Lepidium sativum

Vitality and swiftness.

Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Lepidium
Native to
Western Asia, Egypt
Bloom season
Summer
Type
Annual
Height
30-60 cm
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Moist, fertile
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
3-11
Lifespan
Annual

Did you know

  • Garden cress can germinate and produce edible sprouts in as little as 2-3 days.
  • It has been cultivated since at least 400 BC, when Xenophon recorded Persians eating it.
  • Cress seeds were used in school science experiments for generations to demonstrate plant growth.
  • The peppery flavor of cress is caused by glucosinolates, the same compounds found in mustard.
  • In Iran, cress seeds are soaked to create a popular drink and dessert ingredient called tokhm-e sharbati.

Color meanings

0

Quick growth

1

Nourishment

2

Health

Uses

  • Salad green
  • Garnish
  • Sprouts
  • Traditional medicine