Lakecress: A Rare Native Gem for Water Gardens
If you’re passionate about native water gardening and love supporting rare plants, lakecress might just capture your heart. This unassuming perennial herb brings authentic North American wetland character to specialized garden settings, though it comes with some important considerations for the responsible gardener.
What is Lakecress?
Lakecress (Neobeckia aquatica) is a native perennial forb that belongs to the mustard family. As a herbaceous plant without woody stems, it dies back to the ground each winter and returns the following spring. You might also encounter this plant under several historical names in older gardening references, including Armoracia aquatica and Rorippa aquatica, among others.
Where Does Lakecress Call Home?
This thoroughly North American native spans an impressive range across the continent. You’ll find lakecress naturally occurring from the maritime provinces of Canada down to the Gulf Coast states. Its distribution includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Quebec.
A Plant That Lives in Water
Here’s where lakecress gets really interesting – and challenging. This plant is classified as an Obligate Wetland species across all regions where it grows. That means it almost always occurs in wetlands and requires consistently wet to submerged conditions to thrive. Think of it as nature’s way of creating a plant that’s perfectly adapted to life in and around water.
Important Conservation Considerations
Before you get too excited about adding lakecress to your water garden, here’s something crucial to know: this plant is quite rare in many areas. In New Jersey, it’s listed as endangered, and in Alabama, it has a rarity status of S1, meaning it’s critically imperiled. This doesn’t mean you can’t grow it, but it does mean you need to be extra thoughtful about sourcing.
If you decide to grow lakecress, only obtain it from reputable native plant nurseries that propagate their own stock – never collect from wild populations.
Is Lakecress Right for Your Garden?
Lakecress isn’t for every gardener, but it might be perfect for you if:
- You have a water garden, bog garden, or wetland area
- You’re passionate about growing rare native species
- You enjoy the subtle beauty of small white flowers
- You want to support native pollinators with authentic wetland plants
- You’re involved in wetland restoration projects
Growing Conditions and Care
Successfully growing lakecress requires mimicking its natural wetland habitat:
- Moisture: Consistently wet to submerged soil – this is non-negotiable
- Hardiness: Suitable for USDA zones 3-9, based on its natural distribution
- Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Tolerates various soil types as long as they remain saturated
- pH: Adaptable to different pH levels in wetland conditions
The Reality Check
Let’s be honest – lakecress isn’t the easiest native plant to grow successfully. Its strict moisture requirements mean it’s really only suitable for specialized water features or natural wetland areas. Most traditional gardens simply can’t provide the consistently saturated conditions this plant demands.
However, if you have the right conditions and can source it responsibly, lakecress offers something special: the chance to grow a truly authentic piece of North American wetland heritage in your own space.
Supporting Wildlife
While lakecress may seem modest, it plays its part in supporting native ecosystems. Its small white flowers provide nectar for various pollinators, and as a native wetland plant, it contributes to the complex web of relationships that make healthy wetland habitats possible.
The Bottom Line
Lakecress represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. If you’re passionate about native water gardening and have the specialized conditions this plant requires, it can be a meaningful addition to your collection. Just remember to source it responsibly, respect its rarity, and be prepared to provide the consistently wet conditions it absolutely must have to thrive.
For most gardeners, there are more accessible native wetland plants that might better suit typical water garden conditions. But for the dedicated native plant enthusiast with the right setup, lakecress offers a chance to grow something truly special – a rare piece of North America’s natural heritage.
