Cress - Persian - (75x seeds)

Ancient herb, modern florist favourite.

Seed grown, collected and packed at Our Mountain Garden, Tamborine Mountain QLD.

Persian Cress (Lepidium sativum) is a wonderfully versatile annual that deserves a place in both the vegetable garden and the cutting garden.

Cultivated for centuries and associated with the ancient gardens of Southwest Asia and Persia, garden cress was traditionally grown for its quick-growing, peppery leaves. Today, Persian cress has found a second life as a much-loved floral filler, adding delicate greenery, movement and texture to fresh and dried arrangements.

As the plants mature, they produce fine, branching stems covered in tiny, flattened seed pods that resemble little silvery-green coins. In our flower beds on Tamborine Mountain the stems reached around 1 metre, long enough for generous vase work. Their airy appearance makes them a lovely contrast to bold cool-season flowers such as stock, snapdragons, ranunculus and sweet peas.

Why grow Persian Cress?

• Beautiful, delicate greenery for bouquets and floral arrangements.
• Distinctive silvery-green seed pods that add texture and interest.
• Suitable for fresh arrangements and dried floral work.
• Fast-growing annual that can provide edible, peppery young leaves.
• Ideal for succession sowing to extend your harvest.
• A versatile addition to the cutting garden, kitchen garden or cottage garden.

Growing Information
Plant type: Annual herb
Botanical name: Lepidium sativum
Height: Up to 1m in our beds
Seed quantity: 75 seeds per packet
When to sow: In South East Queensland, sow from April through to August for a cool-season crop through autumn, winter and early spring. Adjust sowing times to suit your local climate.
Sowing method: Surface sow a few seeds per cell, then lightly cover with a fine layer of seed raising mix followed by vermiculite.
Germination: Usually 3-7 days. Aim for a medium temperature of approximately 13-18°C during germination.
Position: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during germination and early growth.
Spacing: Plant out at least 15-20cm apart to allow room for branching and airflow. Support taller stems if needed for floral use.
Succession sowing: Sow small batches every 2-3 weeks for a more continuous supply of foliage and flowering stems.
Harvesting: For floral arrangements, allow the plants to develop their characteristic seed pods before cutting. Harvest at the green stage for a fresh, delicate look, or allow the pods to mature further for more textural arrangements.

A little growing tip: If you're growing Persian cress primarily for bouquets, give the plants enough room and consider supporting the stems as they develop. A few successive plantings can be more useful than one large crop that matures all at once.

Add a little history, texture and versatility to your garden with this charming old-fashioned annual.

Our Mountain Garden - growing something beautiful, one seed at a time.

We post to QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and SA including regional areas. We are unable to post to WA, NT, TAS or overseas.

Happy growing,
Carla 🌱