If conditions are just right, your watercress will show off a blanket of tiny white flowers during the summer. While the plant is usually grown for its peppery leaves, these blooms are actually pretty useful in their own right—especially if you’re looking to grow even more watercress next season!
When Does Watercress Bloom?
You’ll usually start seeing the first blossoms pop up around mid-to-late May. The flowering season lasts for a few weeks, generally wrapping up by July. These flowers are typically white or a soft cream color, always featuring bright yellow anthers in the center. They don’t just grow solo, either; they bunch up into lovely little clusters called racemes.
From Flowers to Seeds
Once the flowering stage ends, the blossoms wither away to make room for seed pods. These pods look a bit like tiny green beans, turning white to brown as they age. This is where the watercress seeds develop. When the seeds are fully mature and ready for sowing, the pods dry out and split open to release them.
If you’re planning on propagating your watercress from seed, make sure you don’t give the plant a haircut before or during the blooming phase. Let the flowers do their thing, harvest the seeds once they’re ready, and then prune the herb back to encourage fresh new growth.
Can You Eat the Flowers?
Here’s a common question: are the flowers edible? The short answer is yes! They aren’t toxic or harmful at all. Whether you enjoy the flavor is really down to personal preference, but they are perfectly safe to snack on.
However, there is a catch. Once the plant starts blooming, the leaves tend to lose that signature spicy kick and some of their nutritional punch. If you’re looking for the best flavor, you’ll want to finish your main watercress harvest before the flowers make their appearance.
Creative Ways to Use the Blooms
Watercress flowers aren’t just for show; they’re a great way to add a gourmet touch to your kitchen creations. After giving them a quick rinse, you can use them raw or get a little more creative. Here are a few fan-favorite ways to use them:
- Toss them into salads or use them as a garnish for desserts.
- Whip them into a fancy “flower butter.”
Pro tip: Along with watercress, flowers from borage or sage also make incredible aromatic butters. You can use flower butter just like herb butter—spread it on warm bread or use it to add a flavor boost to grilled fish and steak.
