Lake watercress Plant Care
Nasturtium lacustre A.Gray
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Rorippa aquatica, the lakecress or lake cress, is a species of freshwater aquatic flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is found in eastern and central North America, generally in the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Lake watercress?
Lake watercress grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Lake watercress Native To?
What Is the Lake watercress?
Lake watercress (Nasturtium lacustre) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Nasturtium genus. Lake watercress is native to eastern and central North America, generally in the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds.
Lake watercress displays a trailing, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Lake watercress produces bright, showy flowers in various colors.
What Light Does the Lake watercress Need?
Lake watercress thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Lake watercress?
Well-draining, fertile soil with a neutral pH. Good drainage is essential for Lake watercress to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Lake watercress?
Does not transplant well, sow seeds directly. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Lake watercress?
Lake watercress can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to watercress plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Lake watercress Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Lake watercress, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Lake watercress?
Lake watercress 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.
Keep exploring plants
Lake watercress is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Nasturtium genus — compare its care with other Nasturtium species on PlantoScan.
Nasturtium is part of the Brassicaceae plant family — browse all Brassicaceae genera and species.
Lake watercress thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Nasturtium lacustre A.Gray, family Brassicaceae (first published in Gen. Amer. Bor. 1: 132 (1848)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Lake watercress, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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