Tropaeolum majus

Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Type: Annual
Exposure: Sun / Light Shade
Water: Regular

This versatile plant can be a sprawling climber or bushy and compact. It’s showy, the flowers have a refreshing fragrance, and all parts are edible. The trailing type will sprawl as much as 6ft (1.8m) while the bushy type forms a mound 18in (45cm) high and wide. The leaves on both types are round-ish and bright green. The flowers are available in many brilliant colors, and also in single and double varieties. Use the trailing type in containers, or for spilling over the edge of a hanging basket. The young leaves, unripe seedpods, and even the flowers have a peppery taste and are often used in salads.

Fun Fact: The unripe seedpods, when pickled, are sometimes substituted for “capers”… [and I am the only person I know that will eat capers; they’re delicious with smoked salmon on a bagel].

Cheers,

John