Pronounced (approximate): nah-STUR-shee-um oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lee
Small white flowers have four petals. Compound leaves bear rounded leaflets.
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale): flower details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Brassicaceae
Life cycle Perennial
Blooms April–July
Height 4 to 15 inches
Habitat part shade, sun; cool, shallow water, muddy banks, streams, springs, seeps, wet ditches, ponds
Common names: Watercress
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
part shade, sun; cool, shallow water, muddy banks, streams, springs, seeps, wet ditches, ponds. Flowering season: April–July.
Compare the rounded leaflets, white four-petalled flowers and wet habitat with other mustards. Flowering and fruiting material is more diagnostic than mats of leaves.
Small white flowers have four petals.
Compound leaves bear rounded leaflets.
Creeping leafy stems form mats in shallow flowing water. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
4 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Introduced in North America; native to Europe.
Reported U.S. distribution
AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Includes native and introduced state records where listed; a state record does not imply occurrence in every county.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Watercress in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.