Field cress Plant Care

Field cress (Lepidium ruderale) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Lepidium genus. Field cress is native to temperate Asia and northern and eastern Europe. Field cress is also known as Wall cress.

Field cress displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Field cress produces small white or pink clustered blooms.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Field cress every 4–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Field cress thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Lepidium ruderale tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Field cress prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Field cress to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Field cress every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Field cress is suited to USDA Zone 3a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Field cress can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Field cress while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Field cress is hardy down to USDA zone 3a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Field cress can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to field pepperweed plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Field cress is susceptible to aphids, flea beetles, cabbage worms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Field cress grows outdoors in USDA Zone 3a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 3a. Field cress is native to temperate Asia and northern and eastern Europe.