Garden Cress Plant Care

Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Lepidium genus. Garden Cress is also known as Cress.

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

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Garden 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.

Garden Cress thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Lepidium sativum tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Garden Cress prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

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

Feed Garden 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.

Garden Cress is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

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.

Garden 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 Garden 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.

Garden Cress is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Garden 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.

Garden 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.

Garden Cress grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Garden Cress as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.