{"id":302,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:02","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=302"},"modified":"2025-08-04T05:52:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T05:52:00","slug":"lebanese-cress","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/lebanese-cress\/","title":{"rendered":"Lebanese cress"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Apium nodiflorum<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0Stonecress, Fools Watercress.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Lebanese Cress (Apium nodiflorum<\/i>) is what I like to call a \u201chard-to-kill\u201d plant<\/b> \u2013 once you\u2019ve got it, you\u2019ll probably always have it. It forms a lush, low-growing mat<\/b> of fine, feathery leaves that will happily cover the ground, creeping into any moist spot it can find. Left unchecked, it can quickly turn into a green carpet<\/b>, but the upside is that you\u2019ll have endless greens on hand.<\/p>\r\n

It loves moist soil<\/b> and will thrive in boggy spots, by ponds, or along drains \u2013 but it\u2019s not fussy and will tolerate some dry spells once established. If the soil dries out too much, it\u2019ll slow down and leaves may toughen up, but they\u2019ll bounce back after rain or a good soak.<\/p>\r\n

Lebanese Cress prefers partial shade<\/b>, especially in the hotter months \u2013 in full sun<\/b> the leaves can be coarser, but still usable. In cooler climates, it may die back or go dormant over winter, then spring back when the weather warms.

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"\r\n
Did I mention that Lebanese Cress\u00a0
can be invasive?

<\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Propagation couldn\u2019t be easier<\/b>: just rip up a clump, roots and all, and plonk it where you want it. Give it some water and it\u2019ll settle in with almost no fuss. If you\u2019re in a warmer region, it\u2019s smart to start 2\u20133 patches in different spots (some sunnier, some shadier), so you\u2019ll always have tender leaves from at least one patch.

<\/p>\r\n

Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Lebanese Cress might look delicate, but it’s nutritionally strong too. It\u2019s a good source of protein for a leafy plant<\/b> and loaded with Vitamin A<\/b> (great for eyes and skin), Vitamin C<\/b> (immunity boost), and Vitamin B complex<\/b> for energy and nervous system support. It also brings iron and calcium<\/b> for blood and bone health, along with potassium and phosphorus<\/b> for strong muscles and healthy cells.<\/p>\r\n

In folk medicine, Lebanese Cress (and its relatives) have been used as a mild diuretic<\/b> and general tonic, helping the body flush out excess fluid and support kidney health. While not as famous as some medicinal herbs, its mix of vitamins and minerals makes it a solid everyday \u201cnutritional booster\u201d<\/b> if you eat a few handfuls each week.<\/p>\r\n

Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Cress Tea<\/strong> \u2013 Simmer handful of leaves for 10\u202fmin; used for kidney\/bladder support.
Poultice for Swollen Joints<\/strong> \u2013 Crushed fresh leaves applied to bruises or swelling.
Detox Broth<\/strong> \u2013 Boiled with carrots, onion, and garlic; drunk as a cleansing tonic.
Herbal Bath Infusion<\/strong> \u2013 Leaves steeped in hot water; infusion added to bath for skin conditions.

<\/p>\r\n

Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

The flavour of Lebanese Cress is refreshing and clean<\/b> \u2013 imagine a cross between carrots and celery<\/b>, with a light crunch. It\u2019s not overpowering, which makes it easy to toss into just about anything.<\/p>\r\n

It shines best fresh<\/b>: pick handfuls for salads, sandwiches, wraps, or scatter over cooked dishes as a garnish. Chopped finely, it adds a subtle lift to coleslaw<\/b> or pasta salads<\/b>. The stems are tender enough to eat raw, but you can also toss the whole lot into stir-fries or soups right at the end for colour and a bit of crunch.<\/p>\r\n

Simple recipe ideas:<\/b>
= Lemon & Lebanese Cress Salad<\/b> \u2013 toss leaves with lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt for a zingy side salad.
– Garden Wraps<\/b> \u2013 add a fistful of fresh cress to sandwiches or wraps for instant crunch and freshness.
– Green Omelette<\/b> \u2013 fold chopped cress into an omelette with a little feta for a light, herby breakfast.
– Quick Stir-Fry Finish<\/b> \u2013 throw a handful into a stir-fry right before serving to brighten the dish.
– Cress & Carrot Slaw<\/b> \u2013 mix finely chopped Lebanese Cress with shredded carrots and mayo for a twist on classic coleslaw.

<\/p>\r\n

Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Lebanese Cress is so vigorous it\u2019s practically a living mulch<\/b> \u2013 great for ground cover<\/b> in wet or semi-shaded areas, where it will suppress weeds<\/b> and stabilise soil. It\u2019s also a handy fodder plant<\/b> \u2013 chickens, ducks, and even rabbits will happily nibble it, giving you another way to turn it into food via eggs and manure.

<\/p>\r\n

Why it’s a survival plant<\/b>:<\/h3>\r\n

it\u2019s tough, spreads easily, regrows after harvest, and thrives in tricky spots like boggy corners<\/b> where few other edibles will. Plant it once, and you\u2019ll have a permanent patch of salad greens<\/b> that almost looks after itself.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lebanese Cress is a fast-spreading, hardy perennial groundcover that thrives in damp conditions and provides a constant supply of crisp, fresh greens. Its reliability, low maintenance, and year-round harvest in the right climate make it an invaluable survival garden staple.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":128,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[37,38,42,43,44],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-302","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-bog-water-plants","7":"product_cat-cooler-climate-plants","8":"product_cat-pot-and-container-plants","9":"product_cat-salad-leaves","10":"product_cat-shade-loving-plants","12":"first","13":"instock","14":"shipping-taxable","15":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=302"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=302"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}