Tropaeolum majus (Garden Nasturtium)

Tropaeolum majus (Garden Nasturtium) with yellow, orange, and red flowers and rounded green leaves growing

Botanical name: Tropaeolum majus

Common names: Garden Nasturtium, Indian Cress, Monks Cress

Family: Tropaeolaceae

Origin: South America

USDA Zone: 6-11

Cold tolerance: 0°F

Plant type: Fruit or edible; spice or herb

Fruit type: Fruit or edible

Plant form: Small

Mature height: 2-5 ft

Sun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor

Cold tolerance: Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.

Watering: Regular

Flower color: White and off-white; red, crimson, vinous; yellow, orange

Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing

Foliage color: Ornamental foliage

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

Ethnomedical: Ethnomedical plant, traditionally used in folk or indigenous medicine

Tropaeolum majus (garden nasturtium) is a fast-growing herbaceous annual native to the Andes from Bolivia north to Colombia. Cultivated varieties have hybrid origin, with possible parent species including T. minus, T. moritzianum, T. peltophorum, and T. peregrinum. Plants form trailing or compact mounds, with rounded, shield-shaped leaves attached at the center. The showy flowers, in shades of yellow, orange, and red, appear over a long season and are both ornamental and edible. Leaves and flowers have a peppery flavor and are commonly used fresh in salads and as colorful garnishes. Seeds can be pickled as a caper substitute.

Grow nasturtiums in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. Compact forms stay around 12 in tall and make colorful borders, while trailing types can reach several feet and are suited to hanging baskets, window boxes, or ground cover. The plants are low-maintenance, tolerate poor soils, and may self-seed in mild climates. Hardy as an annual in most regions; perennial in frost-free areas.