Nasturtium gambelii
Gambel's water cress, Gambel's Water Cress
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Nasturtium gambelii (Gambel's water cress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by key differences are pubescence, leaflet shape/number, and fruit length.
Gambel's water cress is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Central and Southern Coast bioregions in marshes, streambanks, and lake margins at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate white flowers 6 to 8 millimeters long with oblanceolate petals. Growing with erect to decumbent stems 50 to 120 centimeters tall that are generally hairy and branched, it spreads across wet habitats. Its compound leaves feature 9 to 17 linear to narrowly oblong leaflets, each 5 to 25 millimeters long with dentate or wavy edges. The fruit develops as a slender pod 2 to 3 centimeters long, containing 24 to 40 small ovate seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are pubescence, leaflet shape/number, and fruit length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshes, streambanks, lake margins
Elevation: < 350 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Nasturtium gambelii blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
How to tell it apart
vs Cardamine: Nasturtium roots from stem nodes in water; Cardamine grows in moist soil without aquatic rooting stems.; vs Tropaeolum: Nasturtium is aquatic with compound leaves; garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum) is terrestrial with round shield-shaped leaves.; vs Lobularia: Nasturtium has compound leaves with separate leaflets; sweet alyssum has simple undivided leaves.; vs Helosciadium: Nasturtium has 4-petaled mustard flowers; Helosciadium has 5-petaled umbel flowers.; vs Callitriche: Nasturtium has compound leaves and 4-petaled flowers; water starwort has simple opposite leaves and tiny flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nasturtium gambelii native to California?
Yes. Nasturtium gambelii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nasturtium gambelii bloom?
Nasturtium gambelii blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Nasturtium gambelii grow?
Nasturtium gambelii occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 350 m.
What plant family does Nasturtium gambelii belong to?
Nasturtium gambelii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Nasturtium.
Is Nasturtium gambelii rare or endangered?
Nasturtium gambelii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.