The round green leaves like small lily pads, and the jewel-like flowers make the nasturtium an extremely ornamental flowering annual. Easily grown them from seed to flower in four to six weeks, not only do nasturtiums make me smile, but they also can also make a salad tasty! This beautiful flowering plant is an edible ornamental which is often used to decorate or spice up salads. You can grow your own nasturtiums – read on!
From its humble beginnings of origin in the Andes mountains, to an annual flower standard fare, nasturtiums are familiar to most gardeners. This easy-to-grow flower has been developed into many colors ranging from orange, yellow, pink, and red and even multiple colors on one flower. Selecting flower shapes and forms are also a consideration when picking the type you want. Most nasturtiums are one to one and one-half feet tall and no more than two-feet wide. While many are trailing (climbing) in nature and may do best in a hanging basket or cascading down a pedestal, there are also dwarf compact forms suitable for using as a bedding plant. A type called ‘Phoenix’ is an old variety sporting English ivy-like foliage and flame-shaped flowers. Another type called ‘Whirlybird’ features upward facing semi-double flowers. Some others include ‘Amazon Jewel’, a trailing type with colorful flowers, ‘Moonlight’, producing yellow flowers with trailing growth, ‘Empress of India’ with scarlet flowers in a semi-bush form, ‘Salmon Baby’ featuring cream-colored flowers with a bush form, and ‘Tip Top Alaska’ noted for compact plants with mixed flower colors and the added feature of variegated foliage.
Partial to full sun in well drained soils is ideal for nasturtiums. These annuals do best in poor sandy soil – rich soils and too much in the way of nitrogen fertilizer will produce lots of foliage at the expense of the flowers. Nasturtiums do best in the cooler part of the year and will tend to decline when the temperatures get too hot. They can also suffer from frost damage, so plan accordingly. Direct seeding is the best management practice as the seedlings – unless potted in individual containers where the roots will not be disturbed – are difficult to transplant.
Now, in addition to the eye appeal of this plant, is its edible nature – leaves, pods, and blooms. The nasturtium as an herb tastes a bit like watercress and offers a peppery flavor to salads. If you use nasturtiums for salads and edible decorations, make sure that you do not use pesticides on or near them. As a normal practice, always wash your produce before consuming.
If you have any pests at all, the most damaging group that I have experienced are aphids. They will enter right under your nose and proliferate rapidly. These are easily controlled – once you find them – with commercial insecticidal soap as per label directions.
So, there you have it – this is why nasturtiums make me smile. Easy to grow, colorful, a wide variety of forms, and edible to boot – nasturtiums should be added to your plant palette in 2025! For more information on all types of annuals suitable to grow in our area, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Gilman, E. F. Klein, R. W. & Hansen, G. (2023) Tropaeolum x ‘Jewel Mix’ ‘Jewel Mix’ Nasturtium, ‘Jewel Mix’ Watercress. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions (2024) Nasturtiums. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Extension Alachua County, Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteers (2022) Nasturtiums are the January Plant of the Month. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Alachua County.
Salinas, M. (2013) Edible Blossoms for You! Butterfly Gardening, Edible Landscape. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Santa Rosa County.
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