Plant Spotlight: Nasturtium
An easy, edible, high-impact garden favorite
Dear red carpet designers, this plant is your next inspiration. Start with the petals, sure, but don’t forget those flying-lily-pad leaves. Billowy and streamlined at the same time? Is that possible? You tell me. But if Mother Nature can pull it off…
Dear Michelin-star chefs, I am no one to advise, and you probably already know this, but can we please see more nasturtium in our dishes? The leaves look like dinner plates, so maybe start there. And while we’re brainstorming: crushed, dehydrated petals in lieu of pepper just popped into my head. Salt and Nasturtium, anyone?
Dear CEOs, is there anything nasturtium can offer you? Perhaps it’s the low cost, high impact, easy-to-cultivate nature. There’s a lot to learn from a plant like this. Just remember: easy is not the same as simple.
And finally—
Dear Gardener,
Wow. What a plant.
Nasturtium is the perfect Seed Sowing 101 participant. And yet, even after graduating to trickier perennial sowing, we keep coming back to her. We know she’ll germinate. We know she’ll proliferate. We know she’ll show up and do us proud.
Her stalwart reliability is especially comforting when the wild geranium just. won’t. sprout.
Why We Love Nasturtium (Let Us Count the Ways)
Self sowed in a bucket.
Talk about poor soil!
She’s beauty and she’s grace
Truly mesmerizing. Can’t stop staring.She’s completely edible
Leaves, flowers, seeds. Think gardening snack and kid-friendly entertainment.Rabbits don’t love her
I planted nasturtium two years ago as a “sacrificial plant,” hoping rabbits would eat her instead of everything else. Total failure. They ignored her completely.Pollinators adore her
Bees and other beneficial insects can’t get enough.Thrives in poor soil
She actually prefers it. Old potting mix? Garden refuse bucket? No problem.Perfect for containers
Her sprawling habit makes her an ideal spiller in pots and window boxes.Flexible light needs
She thrives in full sun but is perfectly content in part shade.
How to Grow Nasturtium
Nasturtium seeds and starts are easy to find, they are widely available at most garden centers. You can also order seeds online—these are a few favorite, reliable sources:
The seed packet will offer reliable sowing instructions and growing conditions. So go forth, Gardener, and enjoy your edible, reliable, beautiful garden friend called Nasturtium.
Happy Sowing!