Garden Nasturtium the spicy plant.

With Botanical name -Tropaeolum majus

Other Common Names

Common nasturtium, Climbing nasturtium, Garden nasturtium, Indian cress.

This native of  South America is cultivated worldwide as an annual ornamental plant.

Garden Nasturtium is an annual plant that can reach about 20 cm in height and spreads by creeping stems. The leaf blades are more or less circular with distinct leaf veins. The plant can grow in any type of  soil in the sun or semi-shade. You can see orange. Pink, red color flowering plants. Plants includes climbing types, bushy types and dwarf types. You can find variegated leaf patterns too.

Garden Nasturtium 1

Garden Nasturtium’s grow/spread like wild fire in full sun. Regular water is required for good spread and brightly colored blossoms. Fertilize them once in 4 months. Even though you can find flowers all through the year June – September are the rapid flowering months.

Garden Nasturtium’s leaves and flowers are edible; they can be used in salads, imparting a delicately sweet peppery taste.

In fact, it is for its tangy taste that nasturtium gets its common name. It comes from the Latin “Nasus Tortus” meaning convulsed nose, referring to the faces people made when tasting the spicy plant.Garden Nasturtium leaves

Their seeds are also edible, and can be used as a substitute for black pepper. Being high in vitamin C, nasturtiums act as a natural antibiotic, and can be used topically as a poultice for minor cuts and scratches. They are also used in Ayurvedic medicine.

You can use Garden Nasturtium’s in large containers to spill over the sides, all along side of pathways or in an rock garden, between paving stones, can also be used as beds and borders  or can be trained climbing your trellises or fences.It also fits very well in the base of big tree.

It attracts birds, Bees and butterflies. Propagation through seeds.

happy gardening………………………….