Tropaeolum majus

Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium) — an easy South American annual with edible, peppery flowers and leaves, named by Linnaeus for its trophy-like shields and helmets. A star of our edible flowers.

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Tropaeolum majus — the nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus is the botanical name for the garden nasturtium, an easy, fast annual whose flowers, leaves and seeds are all edible and pleasantly peppery. It is a favourite among our edible flowers and a cheerful, hard-working plant throughout the flower seed range.

History & origin

The nasturtium is native to the Andes of South America, from Bolivia to Colombia, and was brought to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The botanist Linnaeus gave it the name Tropaeolum, from the Greek for a “trophy” or victory monument: he was reminded of the round leaves as shields and the spurred flowers as golden helmets. The familiar common name comes from the Latin for “nose-twister,” after the watercress-like heat of the leaves.

Botanical characteristics

Nasturtiums come in trailing, climbing and compact bushy forms, with rounded lily-pad leaves and bright spurred flowers in fiery reds, oranges and yellows. The whole plant is edible — peppery leaves and flowers for salads, and seed pods that can be pickled like capers. Bees and hoverflies love the blooms, so they earn a place among our pollinator flowers, while trailing types tumble beautifully from our container range.

Growing Tropaeolum majus from seed

Few flowers are easier. Sow the large seeds direct after the last frost, straight where they are to grow, in poor to average soil — too rich a soil gives lush leaves and few flowers. They need little care beyond the odd water, and famously work as a companion plant, luring aphids away from beans and brassicas. Our flower growing guide and companion planting guide tell you more.

Ready to grow nasturtiums? Browse the edible flowers or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Edible Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · Container Flowers · Climbing Flowers · All Flower Seeds

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Preguntas frecuentes

¿Qué es Tropaeolum majus?
Es el nombre botánico de la capuchina de jardín, una planta anual comestible y fácil de cultivar.

¿De dónde proceden las capuchinas?
De los Andes de América del Sur.

¿Son comestibles las capuchinas?
Sí — las hojas y flores, con su sabor picante, quedan estupendas en ensaladas, y los frutos pueden encurtirse como alcaparras.

¿Qué significa el nombre?
Tropaeolum significa «trofeo» en griego, por sus hojas en forma de escudo y flores en forma de casco; «nasturtium» significa «retorcedor de nariz».

¿Cómo las cultivo?
Siembra directamente después de la helada en suelo pobre o normal — en suelo rico se obtienen hojas abundantes pero pocas flores.