Sally Benson \u2014 May 26, 2015<\/p>\n

\nYes, it\u2019s an annual. But Tropaeolum, commonly known as nasturtium, neatly bridges the gap between ornamental and edible, and may be just the plant that ties together the garden that\u2019s created to offer both beauty and bounty.<\/p>\n

For today\u2019s \u2013 and tomorrow\u2019s \u2013 gardeners who are demanding \u201cpurpose\u201d in the landscape, nasturtium provides lovely color all season long, plus an unusual and striking garnish at the dining table. Both the flowers and the foliage are often used in salads, dressing up that plate full of greens. The foliage can also be prepared much like spinach, either fresh or cooked.<\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> Tropaeolum<\/em><\/p>\n

Common name:<\/strong> Nasturtium<\/em><\/p>\n

Hardiness:<\/strong> Annual<\/em><\/p>\n

Mature height:<\/strong> 12 inches to 10 feet<\/em><\/p>\n

Mature spread:<\/strong> 1 to 3 feet<\/em><\/p>\n

Classification:<\/strong> Annual pot or garden plant<\/em><\/p>\n

Landscape use:<\/strong> Grow in containers and allow to trail; use as a quick-growing groundcover or train the trailing variety up a fence or garden obelisk<\/em><\/p>\n

Ornamental characteristics:<\/strong> Very showy, fragrant, funnel-shaped, fivepetaled flowers sport spurs; blooms range from red through orange to yellow and cream and grow to about 2.5 inches wide; rounded foliage; climbing and bushy, sprawling types are available<\/em><\/p>\n

Some folks even eat the seed pods, although I once was warned to stay away from seeds, as a few questionable sources report they contain toxic elements. (Maybe that\u2019s why Dad called them \u201cnasty little nasturtiums.\u201d On the other hand, he was given to wordplay, so you never know. He was known to pluck the plant, flower, stem and leaf, and munch it before he left the garden.) And in case you\u2019re concerned about your pets, the ASPCA reports that there\u2019s no evidence of toxicity to dogs, cats or horses.<\/p>\n

The flavor varies slightly from garden to garden, but very slightly. (A neighbor, whose soil is similar to mine, offered some extra nasturtium and they were tangier than the crop I\u2019d grown. Perhaps a different seed strain?) Washed flowers and leaves offer a subtle, peppery taste; certainly not overwhelming, but enough to spice up a salad. Some liken the flavor to a radish, although I\u2019ve found them to be a bit wimpier than that. Stems may be slightly sweet at first, then the aftertaste is strongly peppered. I\u2019ve only used nasturtiums in fresh salads, primarily because I\u2019m an admittedly lazy cook. If it takes much preparation, I\u2019m not interested.<\/p>\n

So, that\u2019s the table; what do nasturtiums contribute to the garden?<\/p>\n

Phots: iStock | morgana3<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to miss the brilliantly colored, showy blooms, offered in sunny colors ranging from red to orange to yellow, and sometimes cream. The funnel-shaped blooms, which have five petals and are spurred, sit atop rather long stalks. Many varieties have a spicy scent.<\/p>\n

The unique foliage is rounded and presents itself like a parasol, with the petiole attached near the center of each leaf. Most leaves grow to about 3 to 4 inches round, but I\u2019ve had several plants whose leaves have exceeded 5 inches \u2013 perhaps they were garden freaks.<\/p>\n

There are quite a few varieties, most of them falling within two categories of growth habit: climbing types and bushy, sprawling types. It\u2019s really just a matter of site conditions, as both types require similar care. Average to poor (!) soils are tolerated, and some afternoon shade is welcome in regions where summers tend to experience prolonged heat. The plants are not susceptible to significant insect or disease problems, although the occasional whitefly or aphid infestation may occur.<\/p>\n

Nasturtiums grow quickly, offer color and rich foliage in container or garden settings, and provide a bit of Vitamin C, to boot. They\u2019re the ideal starter plant for those who want more than aesthetics in the landscape. They\u2019re plants with a purpose.<\/p>\n

Cover Photo iStock | DaveAlan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sally Benson \u2014 May 26, 2015 Yes, it\u2019s an annual. But Tropaeolum, commonly known as nasturtium, neatly bridges the gap between ornamental and edible, and may be just the plant that ties together the garden that\u2019s created to offer both beauty and bounty. For today\u2019s \u2013 and tomorrow\u2019s \u2013 gardeners who are demanding \u201cpurpose\u201d in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5,99,79,16,100,101,102],"class_list":["post-615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nursery","tag-american-nurseryman","tag-blooms","tag-garden","tag-landscape","tag-ornamental","tag-plant","tag-pot"],"yoast_head":"\n