Yes, they are often pickled and used as a substitute for capers.

Do they need full sun?

They prefer full sun but will bloom in partial shade.

Plant guide

Nasturtium.

Tropaeolum majus L.

Pronounced tro-PEE-oh-lum MAY-jus

Also known as Garden Nasturtium, Indian Cress, Lark's Heel, Monk Cress, Nasties, Nasturtium

garden nasturtium — Photo by Antonio W. Salas (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Nasturtiums are cheerful, fast growing annuals that bring a splash of color to any garden. They are incredibly easy to grow from seed and offer edible flowers and leaves with a peppery kick. You will love how they trail over containers or climb up a trellis.

Another photo of Nasturtium — Photo by Macelo Costa (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual flowering herb
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 1 to 10 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Early summer to first frost

Care

Plant these in a sunny spot with well draining soil to keep them happy. Avoid over fertilizing, as too much food leads to lush foliage but very few flowers. Watch for aphids, which sometimes gather on the undersides of the leaves.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a light, balanced fertilizer only if the soil is very poor.
Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms to encourage a longer flowering season.
Repotting: These are typically grown as annuals and do not require long term repotting.
Soil: Well draining, poor to average soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature: 5 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual, typically 1 season
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth despite regular feeding

Safety

People: This plant is non toxic to humans.
Children: The seeds are large enough to be a choking hazard for very small children.
Contact allergens: Some people may experience mild skin irritation from the sap.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant risk of respiratory allergy.
Edibility: Ensure plants are grown without pesticides if you intend to eat the flowers or leaves.

How to identify it

Round, peltate, bright green leaves
Funnel shaped flowers with long spurs
Vibrant orange, red, or yellow petals
Trailing or climbing growth habit

Height: 0.3 to 3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, variegated, deciduous
Flowers: orange, red, yellow, 3 to 6cm
Fruit: green, late summer

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your nasturtium from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: In cold climates, the plant will die with the first frost. You can collect the seeds in late summer to replant next spring.
In containers: They grow beautifully in hanging baskets or containers with at least a 20 cm depth.

Seed Sowing

1. Soak seeds in water for 4 hours to soften the coat.
2. Plant seeds 1 cm deep in well draining soil.
3. Keep soil moist until germination occurs in 7 to 14 days.

Plant nasturtiums at the base of your vegetable crops to manage pest populations naturally.

Grows well with

Cucumber · Nasturtiums help deter cucumber beetles.
Tomato · They act as a sacrificial plant to draw aphids away from tomatoes.
Radish · Both plants enjoy similar growing conditions and soil types.

Similar species

Canary Creeper · It is a related climbing species with fringed yellow flowers.

Science

Family: Tropaeolaceae
Genus: Tropaeolum
Order: Brassicales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central and South America
Conservation: This plant is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and climbs using twining leaf petioles.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, trap crop for aphids
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: edible garnish, companion planting, ground cover, container gardening

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I eat the seeds?: Yes, they are often pickled and used as a substitute for capers.
Do they need full sun?: They prefer full sun but will bloom in partial shade.

Where the name comes from

The genus name refers to the shield shape of the leaves, resembling a trophy of war. The common name nasturtium comes from Latin meaning nose twister, referring to the peppery scent.

Good to know

Nasturtiums are often used as a trap crop to lure aphids away from vegetables.
The name Tropaeolum comes from the Greek word for trophy.
The flowers are rich in vitamin C.

Keep your nasturtium growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.