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Nasturtiums bring so much more to the garden than their bright, beautiful flowers. These plants are edible, work as a natural pest repellant, and attract beneficial insects. That's a lot for one flower to do, but that's what makes nasturtiums so special!
About Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are native to South and Central America and belong to the Tropaeolaceae family. The plant's name means "nose-twister" in Latin. Renaissance botanists gave it this name because of its peppery flavor and spicy scent, which are similar to watercress (Nasturtium officinale).
There are two main growth habits in nasturtiums. The trailing types (Tropaeolum majus) grow long vines that stretch up to 10-20 feet. These varieties look stunning in hanging baskets, cascade over raised beds, and climb up fences and trellises beautifully. Bush or dwarf types (Tropaeolum minus) stay more compact and usually reach about 12 inches tall. These varieties create neat mounds that work perfectly in borders, containers, and smaller garden spaces where every inch counts.
Why Nasturtiums Deserve a Spot in Every Garden
- Low maintenance - Nasturtiums are truly easy to take care of. These plants need minimal attention and actually seem to thrive better when they're left to themselves. They don't need fertilizer while growing - feeding them can actually hurt their growth.
- Drought tolerance - Nasturtiums planted in the ground rarely need extra water. However, container plants do need checking to maintain consistently moist soil. These plants handle drought and heat without issues.
- Thrives in poor soil conditions - One of the best things about nasturtiums is how they even grow well in poor soil. This makes them perfect for tough garden spots where other plants fail.
- Fast-growing and beginner-friendly - Nasturtiums are some of the quickest and easiest annuals you can grow. The seeds sprout in 7-14 days in warm soil. They usually bloom quickly, too (depending on where you live), so there is a fast reward for minimal work.
Natural Pest Control with Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums will lure harmful insects away from your garden plants. The yellow Nasturtium varieties are especially good at drawing aphids, which often blanket these sacrificial plants' stems. Aphids tend to choose nasturtiums over cabbages and other tender vegetables. Nasturtiums are hardy plants that can handle aphid attacks without dying.
Nasturtiums give off a spicy, peppery scent that keeps certain pests at bay. The aroma throws off and drives away cucumber beetles, squash bugs, cabbage loopers, and Colorado potato beetles. Many gardeners plant nasturtiums close to squash, melons, cucumbers, and tomatoes to boost pest resistance. The strong smell masks these crops' natural scent and stops destructive bugs from finding their favorite plants.
The vibrant flowers attract beneficial insects like hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory wasps. And in turn, these insects help control problematic bugs like aphids, thrips, mealybugs, caterpillars, and whiteflies. Nasturtiums are part of a balanced garden ecosystem.
Edible Uses of Nasturtium
These versatile plants are completely edible - you can eat everything from their leaves and flowers to stems and seeds.
Leaves
Nasturtium's leaves have a peppery punch that tastes a lot like arugula or watercress. The young leaves have a mild flavor, while mature ones taste more intense. Nasturtium greens work well in mixed salads. The leaves make a great spinach replacement in lasagna, minestrone, or quiche. The leaves are also excellent blended into pesto.
Flowers
These bright blossoms look stunning and taste amazing. Their sweet-peppery flavor pairs perfectly with salads, appetizers, and cheese boards. The trumpet-shaped flowers can be stuffed with cream cheese or guacamole for an appetizer. Or fill them and bake them like stuffed shells or stuffed peppers. The blossoms are also beautiful in drinks - freeze them in ice cubes or use them to create uniquely flavored spirits like vodka or tequila with a peppery kick.
Seeds
The green seed pods are called "poor man's capers" because when they're pickled, they taste just like regular capers but with a peppery twist. To make pickled nasturtium seeds, pick the seeds while they're green and firm, then pickle them in vinegar. Add peppercorns or ginger if you like. The pickled seeds taste great in pasta, salads, and fish dishes. Let them pickle for 2-3 weeks, and they'll stay good for up to a year.
Infusions
The flowers and leaves make excellent flavor infusions. If you steep the flowers in white wine vinegar, it takes on a beautiful color and peppery taste. This infused vinegar works great in salad dressings and marinades. Nasturtium butter is another tasty option.
Garden Uses of Nasturtium
You might be amazed at what nasturtiums can do, even if you're an experienced gardener. These versatile plants can revolutionize your garden into a thriving ecosystem with their remarkable ecological benefits.
Boosting soil health
Nasturtiums make excellent green manure that naturally enriches your soil. You can simply chop spent plants, drop them right onto the soil surface, and let them decompose where they fall. This method puts valuable nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and calcium back into your garden. The plant's roots help break up compacted earth and improve your soil's structure and fertility.
Providing ground cover
Nasturtium plants create a thick living mulch that chokes out weeds once they get going. Their spreading growth and big, umbrella-like leaves keep the soil shaded, lock in moisture, and cut down on water loss. This natural ground cover helps keep soil temperatures steady during hot summer days. These plants do great under fruit trees, where they get partial shade.
Attracting pollinators
The sweet nectar in nasturtiums draws all kinds of important pollinators. Red nasturtium varieties are a favorite among hummingbirds, who love their bright colors and showy flowers. The nasturtium flower's lower lip gives bumblebees a perfect landing spot while they gather nectar and pollen. These plants keep blooming until frost hits, which is excellent for pollinators getting ready for winter.
Medicinal properties
Nasturtiums are loaded with vitamin C. Studies show these plants are also antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Scientists have found that nasturtium seed hydrosol can protect against tobacco mosaic virus, which could change how we fight plant diseases naturally.
Top Nasturtium Varieties
Empress of India - Heirloom variety with prolific, deep orange-red flowers and dark blue-green leaves.
Whirly Bird - Semi-double bright flowers in shades of scarlet, cherry, tangerine lemon, cream, and mahogany.
Alaska - Variegated green and white leaves and brilliant gold, orange, and mahogany flowers make this Nasturtium really stand out.
Peach Melba - Flowers are yellow-peach colored with bright red markings