Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus

Nasturtium, Garden - Tropaeolum majus

Fig. 1

Tropaeolum majus

Tropaeolum majus leaves

Fig. 2

T. majus leaves

Fig. 3

Nasturtium flower and seed

Tropaeolum majus fruit, Fruit de Tropaeolum majus, (Grande capucine)

Fig. 4

T. majus seeds

Tropaeolum majus fruit, Fruit de Tropaeolum majus, (Grande capucine)

Fig. 5

T. majus, orange flower bud

Fig. 14
Nasturtium growing in zone 10a

Nasturtium grown as an edible flower in a vertical system

Fig. 15

Nasturtium grown as an edible flower in a vertical system

Front and back of leaf

Fig. 25

Peltate: round leaf, petiole attaches near the center. Florida

Tropaeolum majus

Fig. 26

T. majus variegated leaf. Holland

Tropaeolum majus

Fig. 27

T. majus

Tropaeolum majus - Botanical Garden Bremen

Fig. 29

T. majus, Botanical Garden Bremen

Nasturtium flowers and foliage

Fig. 30
Flowers and foliage

Fig. 31

Flowers in Kilkennny, Ireland

Fig. 36
Invasive. Flowering habit spreading
Maui, Hawaii

Invasive. Flowering habit climbing trees, Maui, Hawaii

Fig. 37

Invasive. Flowering habit climbing trees, Maui, Hawaii

Scientific name
Tropaeolum majus L.
Pronunciation
troe-PEE-oh-lum ¹⁴
Common names
English: garden nasturtium, Indian cress, Mexican cress, nasturtium, Peruvian cress; Transcribed Chinese: han jin lian; French: cresson d'Inde, grande capucine; German: kapuzinerkresse; Hawaii: pohe haol; Maltese: kapuċinella, kabuċinella; Portuguese: chagas; Spanish: capuchina, mastuerzo; Swedish: indiankrasse ^1,2
Synonyms
Cardamindum majus (L.) Moench, Nasturtium indicum Garsault [Invalid], T. pinnatum Andrews, T. quinquelobum Bergius, Trophaeum majus (L.) Kuntze¹¹
Relatives
T. minus, dwarf or bush nasturtium ¹
T. tuberosum Ruiz & Pavón
Family
Tropaeolaceae
Origin
South America ¹³
USDA hardiness zones
All ¹⁴
Uses
Food, condiment, medicine, ornamental. Attracts humming birds ¹⁴
Height
T. majus climber 3 ft (1 m) or longer; T. minus 1 ft (30 cm)
Life form/habit
Herbaceous, ¹⁴ trailing stems grow to 3 ft (1 m) or longer
Life cycle
T. majus: annual; T. minus: annual; T. tuberosum: perennial
Leaf
Peltate; round smooth and pea-green, ¹ some variegated ¹⁴
Flower
Yellow, orange, reddish orange, or red, sometimes striped and spotted, 2.5-6 in. (6-14 cm) long, spur 2.5-3 in. (6-8 cm) long ⁷
Seed pods
Three segmented, about 1/3 in. (1 cm) diameter, round, ridged longitudinally
Planting season
Zone 9: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov; zone 10 and 11: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar ¹⁴
Light requirement
Part shade/part sun¹⁴
Soil texture
Light sandy soils, well drained, medium to low fertility
Soil depth for planting
0.5-1 in. (1-2.5 cm) deep¹
Seed spacing
2-3 in. (5-8 cm) ¹
Seed germination
2 weeks⁵
Cold tolerance
Frost tender
Drought tolerance
Moderate¹⁴
Plant spacing
12 to 18 inches apart¹⁴
Invasive potential *
Not considered invasive in Florida
Disease/Pest resistance
There are few pests to bother the plants¹

Reading Material
Nasturtium, Garden — Tropaeolum majus L., University of Florida^pdfNasturtiums: Nature’s Nose Nabber, Eat The Weeds

Origin
Nasturtium is native to the South American Andes from Bolivia to Columbia.³

Description
The plant is a succulent, climbing annual. Each round smooth pea-green leaf is attached at its center to a slender round petiole. Leaves range from 2 to 5 inches in diameter. It produces numerous five-petaled yellow, orange or red flowers. These develop into round, ridged seed pods that are about 1/3-inch in diameter.¹
These should not be confused with the genus Nasturtium, which is watercress.¹ Species Nasturtium officinale. Brassiceae - Mustard family.

Flowers
Yellow, orange, reddish orange, or red, sometimes striped and spotted, 2.5-6 cm long, spur 2.5-3 cm long (Fig. 5), straight or curved, the lower petals deeply fringed on the claw, apex of plants usually rounded⁷


Fig. 6	Fig. 7	Fig. 8


Fig. 9	Fig. 10	Fig. 11


Fig. 12	Fig. 13

Fig. 6. T. majus Bouton floral, vu en coupe lontitudinale
Fig. 7. Nasturtium flower center
Fig. 8. Détail de barbillons de l'entrée de la fleur. Capucine photographiée près de Lille (Nord de la France)
Fig. 9. New growth
Fig. 10,11,12. Bud
Fig. 13. Open flower

Varieties
T. majus and T. minus, to name a few: Alaska: variegated leaves, Dwarf Jewel, Flame Thrower, Globe Of Fire, King Theodore: mahogany-red flowers, Moonlight: butter lemon flowers, Orange Troika, Peach Melba, Phoenix, Vesuvius, Whirlybird Gold.


Fig. 16	Fig. 17	Fig. 18


Fig. 19	Fig. 20	Fig. 21


Fig. 22	Fig. 23	Fig. 24

Fig. 16. Empress of India, 12-14 inches tall, T. minus
Fig. 17. T. majus
Fig. 18. Milkmaid Nasturtium Flower 10-14 inches tall, T. majus. Closest to white of any nasturtium available to gardeners
Fig. 19. Nasturtium
Fig. 20. Orange and white flower
Fig. 21. Black velvet, 10-12 inches tall, T. minus
Fig. 22. Tip Top Nasturtium Flower, Mixture of apricot, gold, mahogany, and scarlet blossoms, 8-10 inches tall, T. majus
Fig. 23. Ladybird, 8-10 inches tall, T. minus
Fig. 24. Yellow flower

Tropaeolum x ‘Jewel Mix’ ‘Jewel Mix’ Nasturtium, ‘Jewel Mix’ Watercress, University of Florida^pdf

Harvesting
Harvest flowers when young. Young leaves are more succulent than those which are mature, they also have a stronger flavor than the flowers. Pods develop (Fig. 3,4) about 4 months after seeding. ¹ Pick green immature seeds for pickling. Allow seeds to dry on the vine for saving to plant next season.

Propagation by seed
Sow the seeds about ½ to 1 inch deep, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart. When plants of the tall type are about 7 inches tall, place a stake or trellis near them for support. It is not necessary to stake or trellis the dwarf type T. minus L. The plants respond to the same general cultural practices used for most garden vegetables. They can be started indoors, although seedlings can be difficult to transplant. Allow seven to fourteen days for germination.¹

Fig. 28.

Fig. 28 seedlings

Planting
Companion Plants: Nasturtiums are also considered widely useful companion plants. They repel a great many cucurbit pests, like squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and several caterpillars. They have a similar range of benefits for brassica plants, especially broccoli and cauliflower. They also serve as a trap crop against black fly aphids. They also attract beneficial predatory insects.⁸

Fertilizing
Grows well in poor soils, fertilizer and excess water will generally encourage luscious leaves and less flowers.

Irrigation
Responds well to supplemental irrigation

Pests/Diseases
Root-knot nematodes, powdery mildew, tomato spotted wilt virus.
Susceptibility Of Flowers And Bedding Plants To Root Knot Nematodes, University of Florida ^pdf
Nematode Management for Bedding Plants, University of Florida^pdfMarigolds (Tagetes spp.) for Nematode Management, University of Florida ^pdf
Powdery Mildew on Nasturtium in South Florida, University of Florida^pdf
Common Weed Hosts of Insect-Transmitted Viruses of Florida Vegetable Crops, University of Florida^pdf
Disease Management: Tomato Spotted Wilt, University of Florida^{pdf (Archived)}
Food Uses
All parts are edible. Leaves, flowers, and seed pods have a peppery taste. The flowers and young leaves are frequently used to mix in salads, and the seeds, gathered while young and green, are used for pickling and as an excellent substitute for capers. ¹⁰


Fig. 32	Fig. 33


Fig. 34	Fig. 35

Fig. 32. Charollais Fermier Raspberries, nasturtium leaves, juniper balsamic
Fig. 33. Leek Terrine, Quinoa, Nasturtium
Fig. 34. Blueberry soup, edible Flowers
Fig. 35. Green Bean Salad, T. majus

Vietnamese salad rolls recipe, Kittee's Blog, Cake Makers To The Stars.

Nutritional value
The flowers of T. majus are an excellent food sources of lutein and the leaves good sources of both lutein and the provitamin A β-carotene. Violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, zeinoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene were also detected at very low levels.⁹

Medicinal Properties **
All parts of the plant, including flowers, flower buds, and leaves, are edible and contain high concentrations of bioactive metabolites, which confer several medicinal and beneficial properties. Nasturtium is a rich source of vitamin C. The leaves have high concentrations of glucotropaeolin (a glucosinolate whose break-down products have anticancer properties), and the flowers are a valuable source of anthocyanins and carotenoids. (Garzon and Wrolstad 2009; Ghedira and Goetz 2013). In the United States, although the market of nasturtium is limited to local use as a specialty crop, it is highly valued and is increasingly distributed in specialty stores and farmer’s markets as a nutraceutical food (dietary supplement). ¹³
T. majus L. is listed for use in herbal medicine: allergenic, antibacterial, antipyretic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, fungicide, laxative, rodenticide, rubefacient, stimulant, vulnerary.⁴ Avoid for infants or small children and patients with gastrointestinal ulcers or kidney disease. Irritation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.⁵
The leaves are strongly antiseptic. As an internal cleanser, this plant is of special benefit to the blood and the digestive system. ¹²

Invasive Status
Described as weedy; quick maturing, produces many viable seeds, smothering habit and rapid growth. Tolerates salt, wind, hot to cold, semi-shade, damp, damage, and poor soil. Smothers low-growing habitats and prevents the establishment of native plant seedlings.⁶

In some areas T. majus L. is listed as invasive:
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands): Isabela Group, San Cristóbal Group, Santa Cruz Group
State of Hawaii: Hawai‘i (Big) Island, Kaua‘i Island, Maui Island, Moloka‘i Island (Fig. 36,37)
New Zealand (offshore islands): Kermadec Islands⁷

General
Flowering Vines for Florida, University of Florida^{pdf (archived)}
Alternatives to Pesticides and Chemicals
Hydrogen peroxide as a soil amendment for greenhouse nasturtium production (Tropaeolum majus L.)

Further Reading
Nasturtium Flowers^{ext. link}
Nasturtium Art

Older material
Nasturtium, 1919, Sturtevant’s Edible Plants Of The World
Indian cress, 1853, The Book Of The Garden

List of Growers and Vendors

Bibliography

¹ Stephens, James M. "Nasturtium, Garden - Tropaeolum majus L." Horticultural Sciences Dept., UF/IFAS Extension, HS632, Original Pub. May 1994, Revised Sept. 2015, reviewed Oct. 2018, AskIFAS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Accessed 28 July 2017, 29Dec. 2023.
²"Tropaeolum majus L." USDA National Plant Germplasm, 2008, ars-grin.gov. Accessed 11 Dec. 2014.
³Christman, Steve. "Tropaeolum majus L." Floridata, 2005, floridata.com. Accessed 11 Dec. 2014.
⁴Duke, James A., et al. "Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.)." Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 2002, p.521, www.pdfdrive.net/handbook-of-medicinal-herbs-d6646387.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2018.
⁵"Tropaeolum majus L." Plants For A Future, pfaf.org. Accessed 11 Dec. 2104.
⁶"Tropaeolum majus." weedbusters.co.nz. Accessed 19 Dec. 2014.
⁷"Tropaeolum majus L. Tropaeolaceae." Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk, 2011, PIER, hear.org. Accessed 19 Dec. 2014.
⁸"Tropaeolum majus." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2014, wikipedia.org. Accessed 19 Dec. 2104
⁹ Niizu, P. Y., and D. B. Rodriguez-Amaya. "Flowers and Leaves of Tropaeolum majus L. as Rich Sources of Lutein." Journal of Food Science, 70: S605–S609. 31 May 2006. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.tb08336.x, researchgate.net. Accessed 19 Dec. 2014.
¹⁰McIntosh, C. The Book of the Garden. 2:170. Edinburgh, London, 1855.
¹¹"Tropaeolum Majus L." The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2522052. Accessed 1 Jan. 2015.
¹²Conway, David. The Magic of Herbs. Glasgow: Collins, 1975.
¹³Roberts, Pamela D., et al. "Powdery Mildew on Nasturtium in South Florida." Horticultural Sciences Dept., UF/IFAS Extension, May 2017, Reviewed June 2020, AskIFAS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp335. Accessed 31 July 2017, 29 Dec. 2023.
¹⁴Gilman, Edward F. "Tropaeolum spp." Environmental Horticulture Dept., UF/IFAS Extension, FPS-590, Original pub. October 1999, Reviewed Feb. 2014, Archived, AskIFAS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp590. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018, 29Dec. 2023.

Photographs

Fig.¹Jackson, Karen. "Nasturtium Series." 2013, www.growables.org.
Fig. ²Dzierżanowsk, Kajetan. Tropaeolum majus leaves. 27 Aug. 2007, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_leaves.JPG. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³ Forest and Kim Starr. Tropaeolum majus (Garden nasturtium). Alii Kula Lavender Farm Waipoli Rd, Maui. 2010. starrenvironmental.com. Accessed 18 Dec. 2014.
Fig.^₄ Jamain. Tropaeolum majus fruit, Fruit de Tropaeolum majus, (Grande capucine). 26 Aug. 2012, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_fruit_J3.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ⁵Vincentz, Frank. Tropaeolum majus, orange bud. 23 Aug. 2007, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_03_ies.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ⁶Vincentz, Frank. Tropaeolum majus Bouton floral, vu en coupe lontitudinale. 23 Aug. 2007, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_03_ies.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ⁷Jackson, Karen. Nasturtium flower center. 2018. www.growables.org.
Fig. ⁸Lamiot. Détail de barbillons de l'entrée de la fleur. Capucine photographiée près de Lille (Nord de la France). 24 Sep 2011, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majusLamiot21.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ⁹Jackson, Karen. New growth. 2018. www.growables.org.
Fig. ^10,11,12 Jackson, Karen. Bud series. 2018. www.growables.org.Fig. ¹³Jackson, Karen. Open flower. 2018. www.growables.org.
Fig. ¹⁴Jackson, Karen. Nasturtium growing in zone 10a. 2018. www.growables.org.
Fig. ¹⁵Nasturtium grown as an edible flower in a vertical system. 2012. Alternative Greenhouse Crops - Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3. University of Florida. edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Accessed 19 Dec. 2014.
Fig. ¹⁶Flower, Empress of India Nasturtium, Tropaeolum minus. Online Catalogue 2018. seedsavers.org/empress-of-india-nasturtium-flower. Accessed 16 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ¹⁷Hille, Rob. Tropaeolum majus. 20 Aug. 2011, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_RH.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ¹⁸Flower, Milkmaid Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus. Online Catalogue 2018. www.seedsavers.org/milkmaid-nasturtium-flower. Accessed 16 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ¹⁹Bernhard, Hans. (Schnobby). Nasturtium. 30 June 2004, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_2004.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ²⁰Reynolds C. Orange and white flower of nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus. 2007. UC Statewide IPM Program, Regents, University of California. ipm.ucdavis.edu. Accessed 1 Jan. 2015.
Fig. ²¹Flower, Black Velvet Nasturtium. Tropaeolum majus. Online Catalogue 2018. www.seedsavers.org/black-velvet-nasturtium-flower. Accessed 16 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ²²Flower, Tip Top Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus. Online Catalogue 2018. www.seedsavers.org/tip-top-nasturtium-flower. Accessed 16 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ²³Flower, Ladybird Nasturtium, Tropaeolum minus. Online Catalogue 2018. www.seedsavers.org/ladybird-nasturtium-flower. Accessed 16 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ²⁴Reynolds C. Yellow flower of nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus. 2007. UC Statewide IPM Program, Regents, University of California. ipm.ucdavis.edu. Accessed 1 Jan. 2015.
Fig. ²⁵Jackson, Karen. Peltate: round leaf, petiole attaches near the center. Florida. 2018. www.growables.org.
Fig. ²⁶Rasba. Tropaeolum majus. 5 July 2005, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/File:Oostindische_kers_blad_Tropaeolum_majus.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ²⁷Vincentz, Frank. Tropaeolum majus. 25 Aug. 2007, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_05_ies.jpg. Accessed 11 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ²⁸Jackson, Karen. Seedlings. 2013. www.growables.org.
Fig. ²⁹Tubifex. Tropaeolum majus - Botanical Garden Bremen. 9 Sep. 2009, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:3854_-_Tropaeolum_majus_(Große_Kapuzinerkresse).JPG. Accessed 11 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³⁰Jackson, Karen. "Nasturtium Series." 2013. www.growables.org.
Fig. ³¹Pixie. Flowers in Kilkennny, Ireland. 23 June 2006, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kilkenny_1,_Ireland.jpg. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³²Talbot, H. Alexander. Charollais Fermier Raspberries, nasturtium leaves, juniper balsamic. 30 Aug. 2005, (CC BY-SA 2.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CharollaisFermierRaspberryNasturtiumJuniperBalsamic_(8312256180).jpg. Accessed 5 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³³Talbot, H. Alexander. Leek Terrine, Quinoa, Nasturtium. 1 Jan. 1980, (CC BY-SA 2.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LeeksQuinoaNasturtiumMustardCherry_(8329871862).jpg. Accessed 4 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³⁴Chrumps. Blueberry soup. 7 July 2013, (CC BY-SA 3.0), commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blueberry_soup.jpg. Accessed 4 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³⁵Waddington, Rod. Green Bean Salad, Tropaeolum majus. 12 Apr. 2015, (CC BY-SA 2.0), www.flickr.com/photos/rod_waddington/17119484051/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2018.
Fig. ³⁶Forest and, Kim Starr. Tropaeolum majus (Garden nasturtium) Flowering Habit Spreading. Shibuya Farm Kula, Maui. 2011. starrenvironmental.com. Accessed 18 Dec. 2014.
Fig. ³⁷Forest and, Kim Starr. Tropaeolum majus (Garden nasturtium) Flowering Habit Climbing Trees. Kula, Maui. 2009. starrenvironmental.com. Accessed 18 Dec. 2014.

* UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas
** The information provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.

Published 18 Dec. 2014 KJ. Last update 29 Dec. 2023 LR