Have you ever eaten nasturtiums? These beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers make a delicious garnish that adds color and a peppery taste to any salad; the soft petals are similar to the taste of a radish. Add the colored blossoms to an open-faced sandwich, use as a garnish for an omelet, or add some zing to your potato salad. And the young, edible leaves contain high levels of vitamin C. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) certainly add a floral flourish to a summer meal.
Nasturtiums are fast-spreading, sun-loving annuals that are easy to grow. The circular leaf adds a striking aspect of this annual flower as the leaves resemble round lily pads and are eye-catching in a garden bed or planter. Sow seeds in the ground or in containers. They prefer poor soil, so no added fertilizer is necessary. Note that fertile soil will result in fewer blooms and more foliage!
The popular dwarf, bushy varieties of nasturtium have dense foliage and sport glorious flowers. Use them in a planter or at the front of a border. ‘Tom Thumb’ dwarf nasturtium grows into an 8- to 12-inch-tall mound. Another wonderful dwarf is Nasturtium ‘Tip Top Rose,’ a 2020 All America Selections Flower Winner. It has unique, rose-colored flowers on 14- to 18-inch-tall mounded plants.
You can also try ‘Empress of India,’ an heirloom nasturtium with deep blue-green foliage and vermilion-red blossoms. The red flowers attract hummingbirds that love to visit the long-spurred blossoms. Finally, try planting tall-climbing nasturtium vines on a pole or trellis. These produce bigger flowers than the dwarf and semi-trailing species. Popular varieties include ‘Jewel of Africa’ and ‘Tall-Trailing Mix.’
Nasturtium flowers and their round green leaves make an appealing display in a wooden salad bowl. These add a distinct peppery flavor to salads, soups, and sandwiches. Photo by Steven Edgar Bradbury.
‘Alaska Mix’ nasturtium has gold, yellow, orange, salmon, and deep red flowers that peek out from attractive cream-and-green marbled foliage. The compact plants grow 10 to 16 inches tall. Best in sun and poor soil.