watercress
Peppery green that grows in cold springs and creeks.
Also called cress, creasy greens.
Updated September 24, 2026
watercress pronunciation
/WAW-ter-kress/
Meaning
A mustard-family plant mountain folks pull from clean spring runs when garden greens are scarce. The leaves bite a little, like a mild radish. People wilt them with hot bacon grease, stir them into eggs, or eat them as winter salad. Smart foragers pick upstream of livestock and cook wild cress, because creek water can carry bugs you don't want.
How folks use it
- “We gathered a mess of watercress out of the spring for supper.”
- “That watercress sandwich needs a little salt and a boiled egg.”
Origin and etymology
English name for Nasturtium officinale, a European plant that naturalized across North American springs and streams. Appalachian and rural Southern kitchens treated wild watercress as free winter greens long before grocery bags of it showed up. Same peppery family as mustard and radish.
Frequently asked questions
Is wild watercress safe raw?
Only from clean water, and even then a lot of mountain cooks fry or wilt it first. Dirty or livestock water is a hard no.