Lepidium sativum 'Attraxa' seeds - Garden cress, peppergrass

Lepidium sativum ‘Attraxa’, commonly known as garden cress or peppergrass, develops highly branched, airy stems, used as a filler plant and as a drying material in floral displays. Its discreet but abundant flowering gives way to small, glaucous green capsules that take on a wheat-like hue at the end of the season. Its foliage is magnificent in natural bouquets and wreaths. It can be cultivated in beds, as a vegetable border, or in large pots.

A member of the Brassicaceae family, Lepidium sativum has many historical synonyms: Nasturtium sativum, Thlaspi sativum, among others. This species is of Eurasian origin and naturalised elsewhere.
‘Attraxa’ is an ornamental cultivar selected for its rounder and more regular fruits or siliquas, sought after in floristry. An annual plant with an upright habit and a stem that is very branched in the upper third, its growth is very rapid: it takes 65 to 75 days from sowing to harvest of the stems for ornamental use. In open ground, it reaches 80 to 100 cm in height for 25–35 cm in width; in pots (containers of 5 to 10 litres), expect 50 to 70 cm depending on planting density. The light green stems are thin, smooth, and slightly chalky. The plant produces one main stem, so it is advisable to sow several seeds per pot to achieve a full effect.
The foliage is formed of finely divided medium green basal leaves that disappear quickly and of cauline leaves that are lobed, becoming narrow and linear towards the top, smooth. The small flowers quickly evolve towards fruiting and appear yellowish at the very beginning of their blooming. The fruits are rounded siliquas of 5–6 mm, slightly notched at the top, first glaucous green, then straw-coloured when ripe; they are very decorative once dried. Flowering and fruiting occur between June and September, depending on sowing dates.

In the garden, sow the ‘Attraxa’ cress on the edge of the vegetable garden, in dedicated cut flower strips, or in large containers 40 cm deep. This plant likes full sun, a light, humus-bearing soil that remains moist; water during dry periods, especially in pots. Sow densely (15–20 cm between young plants) every two weeks to stagger the harvests.
In a free-form bed, pair its thin stems with large-petalled flowers: Giant Dahlias, Chinese Peonies, Echinacea 'Magnus'. In a cut flower arrangement, combine them with Large-Flowered Tea Roses, China Asters or Blanket Flowers. Leave a few bunches to dry upside down for your winter displays.

Garden cress, consumed as a pungent herb, is also cultivated hydroponically and is often used as a model plant in schools to illustrate germination due to its exceptional speed. In the Arabian Peninsula, the seeds are used in a traditional hot drink.