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Publication #FPS-590

 

Tropaeolum spp. Nasturtium, Watercress1

Edward F. Gilman2

Introduction

Nasturtium is an uncommon plant occasionally seen in the garden center. Plants display round leaves on long petioles emerging from a shortened stem. Bright, showy, red or orange flowers are held among the foliage and remain partially hidden from view. Foliage on some selections is a beautiful variegated green and white

General Information

Scientific name: Tropaeolum spp.
Pronunciation: troe-PEE-oh-lum species
Common name(s): nasturtium, watercress
Family: Tropaeolaceae
Plant type: herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Fig. 1)
Figure 1. 

Shaded area represents potential planting range.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Planting month for zone 7: Jun; Jul
Planting month for zone 8: May; Jun
Planting month for zone 9: Mar; Apr; Oct; Nov
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Nov; Dec; Jan; Feb; Mar
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: container or above-ground planter; mass planting; edging; border; culinary; attracts hummingbirds; hanging basket
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 1 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Plant habit: round
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: most emerge from the soil, usually without a stem
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: undulate; lobed
Leaf shape: orbiculate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaf type and persistence: not applicable
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: variegated
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: red; orange
Flower characteristic: summer flowering; flower season is longer in zones 9-11

Fruit

Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: occasionally wet; acidic; sand; loam; clay
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: not applicable
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: may self-seed each year
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

The plant can be used along a walk or as a border at the edge of a landscape bed. The foliage stays fresh looking provided the plants receive some afternoon shade. They look best when provided with occasional irrigation when the weather gets dry.
Plants are useful in salads. Both flowers and foliage can be eaten and are quite nice. Surprise guests by picking bright flowers from the garden and include them in the salad.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS-590, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.