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An armload of Cress Green Dragon
An armload of Cress Green Dragon
Cress Green Dragon growing in the field
An overhead of Cress Green Dragon
Cress Green Dragon growing in the field
Cress Green Dragon growing in the field
A bunch of Cress Green Dragon
An armload of Cress Green Dragon

Cress ‘Green Dragon’

Lepidium species

Features

  • Dryable
  • Easy to grow
  • Foliage & Filler
  • One-hit wonder

Description

Long, strong stems have a heavy branching habit, producing 6 to 12 airy stems from a single plant. Stems are covered in tiny, apple-green, disk-shaped seeds. Plants are durable and age well, turning pink, gold, and green together and transitioning well into autumn. Hands down, one of the best bouquet fillers, and a must-grow for mixed bouquets and fall wreaths, as it can be used either fresh or dried.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 40 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 50 to 60 days
Plant spacing: 12 in
Pinch: do not pinch

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed, or direct-seed as soon as the ground can be worked. Succession-plant every 2 weeks for continual harvest. Don’t pinch plants.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when seedpods are fully formed and the top blooms have faded. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Seed heads can be dried and used indefinitely. To dry, hang upside down in a warm, dark place until firm.

Details

Description

Long, strong stems have a heavy branching habit, producing 6 to 12 airy stems from a single plant. Stems are covered in tiny, apple-green, disk-shaped seeds. Plants are durable and age well, turning pink, gold, and green together and transitioning well into autumn. Hands down, one of the best bouquet fillers, and a must-grow for mixed bouquets and fall wreaths, as it can be used either fresh or dried.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 40 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 50 to 60 days
Plant spacing: 12 in
Pinch: do not pinch

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed, or direct-seed as soon as the ground can be worked. Succession-plant every 2 weeks for continual harvest. Don’t pinch plants.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when seedpods are fully formed and the top blooms have faded. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Seed heads can be dried and used indefinitely. To dry, hang upside down in a warm, dark place until firm.

Sources

How to Grow

How to Grow

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In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.