Jewell Nasturtium
- botanical name: Tropaeolum majus
- annual
- height 12-16″
- spacing 8-12″ apart
- full sun tolerant, partial shade
- poor-average soil
- flower color yellow, orange, pink, red
- uses in garden: as a border, great in containers, cut foliage, as an edging, mass plant
- use in salads, on sandwiches
- attracts hummingbirds
*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”
Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2013. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.
For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”
Jewel Nasturtium, true to its name, bears a dazzling array of bright flowers that match the plant in its tropical appearance. The plant is native to the South American Andes, and is not a perennial in this climate although it can reseed. Hummingbirds love the flowers that come in an array of yellow, orange, pink, and red and are edible! Use them to jazz up an ordinary green salad. Like its relative watercress, Jewel Nasturtiums have peppery-flavored leaves which are used in fresh salads as well. The leaves look somewhat like water lily pads, and are lovely when planted around a fish pond or fountain in the garden. It makes a perfect container or edging plant. Great for children’s gardens!
Easy to care for. Plant Empress of India in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, but not especially rich soil. High nitrogen levels will promote more foliage rather than flower production. Does best where summers are cool. Nasturtiums have average watering needs; don’t over water. They will tolerate poor, dry soil.
Carl Linnaeus, the renowned botanist, named Nasturtium after the Latin word for ‘trophy’. He thought the leaves looked like shields and the flowers like blood-stained helmets of defeated enemies.
Jewell Nasturtium seeds are also available. Purchase them here.
Sowing Instructions:
Recommended planting method: outdoors – sow seeds two weeks before the last frost, 1/2 inches deep, 6 inches apart. Cover seeds with soil as they require darkness to germinate. Germination 7-14 days. Thin seedlings after they have their first true leaves, spacing plants 8-12 inches apart. Days to bloom 55-65.
Harvest when flowers are fully open. You can harvest the leaves at any time. Collect seed head/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry. Or allow seed heads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds.
