Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) - Wildlife-Friendly Native for Cool, Clean, Shallow Edges (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free)

Fresh, aromatic green shoots with small white flowers in late spring-summer make Nasturtium officinale a lively UK-native for cool, clean, shallow water. It creeps and roots at the nodes, knitting pond collars, rills and stream-style edges, where it offers cover and pathways for froglets and aquatic insects and helps use up spare nutrients as part of a balanced planting. Expect around 15-40 cm high in growth, spreading steadily when happy; excellent in a basket at the rim (0-5 cm water over soil) or in consistently damp, cool ground just beyond the liner. In warm, nutrient-rich ornamental ponds it can be vigorous - easy to manage with a trim.

Where it thrives

• Light: Full sun to light/partial shade (best in bright, cool conditions)

• Moisture/Zone: Pond margin / rill / shallow flow; crown at water level or with 0-5 cm water over the soil

• Setting: Edible-looking, but for ornamental/wildlife ponds only (see Safety). Great near overflows, gentle waterfall returns, and barrel rims kept cool

Planting & care

• Plant in a mesh aquatic basket with peat-free aquatic/bog compost; top with washed grit

• Shear regularly to keep compact, encourage fresh growth, and prevent blockage of small flows

• Remove flowering stems if you want to limit self-seeding; divide clumps yearly or as needed

• Keep total plant mass to ≤ one-third of the pond; compost trimmings away from watercourses

Safety (important & honest):
Sold for ornamental use only in garden ponds. Do not eat watercress grown in ponds or barrels: water quality, runoff, and wildlife can introduce parasites or contaminants unsafe for consumption. Wash hands after pond work. Never release plants or pond water into the wild.

Truth-first wildlife note:
Small, open flowers are accessible to hoverflies and small bees, while the trailing habit gives safe, shaded shallows for emerging amphibians and invertebrates. Partner with other single-flowered natives to extend nectar across the season.

Joel says…
“Great for that stream-edge feel. Keep it cool and shallow, trim it often, and let it stitch the rim - just remember it’s for wildlife, not the salad bowl.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are ordering perennials between the months of October and March, including aquatic plants, please be aware that this is the dormant phase for perennials, so your plants may arrive showing potentially little or no top growth at this stage, or can in some cases still have some old leaves from last year showing also. Please don't worry, as this is all quite normal. Once the weather warms up in spring, you will start to see fresh growth and activity! If you ever have any concerns at all, please just message the team on enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we'll always do our best to help.