Water dropwort
Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC.
Water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) is a moisture-loving herb with hollow, jointed stems and celery-scented leaves; used in soups, stir-fries and salads, it is considered cooling and refreshing.
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Java waterdropwortWater dropwort
Java waterdropwort
Java waterdropwort
Java waterdropwort
Java waterdropwort
Java waterdropwortJava waterdropwortWater dropwortOverview
Water dropwort is a perennial herb of wet places, 30–80 cm tall; its slender, hollow, jointed stems creep and then rise. The pinnately divided leaves have serrate margins and a light green colour with a mild celery-like scent. Small white flowers form umbels at the tips in late summer.
Water dropwort is widely cultivated across East and Southeast Asia; in Vietnam it is grown in moist fields and by ponds. The young shoots flavour soups, beef stir-fries, salads and hot-pot, offering an aromatic, crisp bite. Note that some Oenanthe species are toxic, so only the edible species should be used and it is best cooked.
Life cycle
From seed to productStolon cutting
Propagated by **stolons/runners**: cut 10–15 cm sections with nodes and peg them into moist soil.
Rooting & sprouting
Nodes root and new shoots appear within 1–2 weeks.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **small white umbel flowers, May–August**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Maturity & harvest
After each cut the plant regrows young leaves from stems and shoots; **young tips picked 30–40 days after planting, year-round**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- East Asia35%
- Southeast Asia35%
- Vietnam15%
- Others15%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Aromatic essential oilCharacteristic celery aroma40%
- Vitamins and mineralsMicronutrients30%
- FlavonoidsAntioxidant30%
Uses
- Cooked in soup
- Stir-fried with beef, salads, hot-pot
- Considered cooling and refreshing
Properties
- Taste
- Celery-like, crisp, cooling
- Use
- Vegetable; cooling
Habitat & conservation
Wet places, paddy fields and pond margins; cool climate.
Conservation
Widely grown and gathered; not threatened.
References
- 1Kew Science – Plants of the World Online: Oenanthe javanica — Kew (Plants of the World Online), 2026
- 2Wikipedia – Oenanthe javanica — Wikipedia, 2026