Nasturtium Varieties and Advanced Growing: Selection, Culinary Uses, and Design

Advanced Nasturtium Growing and Variety Selection

The nasturtium genus offers remarkable diversity in growth habit, flower form, and foliage. Understanding this diversity enables gardeners to select perfect varieties for specific uses—from elegant container displays to effective trap cropping and gourmet culinary applications.

Complete Guide to Nasturtium Types

Growth Habits

Trailing/Climbing (Tall Types):

Feature	Details
Length	6-10+ feet
Growth	Vigorous, twining petioles
Support	Trellises, fences, arbors
Uses	Vertical interest, ground cover

Semi-Trailing:

Feature	Details
Length	2-4 feet
Growth	Sprawling mounds
Uses	Hanging baskets, edges

Compact/Bush (Dwarf Types):

Feature	Details
Height	8-18 inches
Growth	Dense, mounding
Uses	Borders, containers, edging

Flower Forms

Single Flowers:

Traditional 5-petaled form
Prominent spur
Best for pollinators
Most common type

Semi-Double:

Extra petals
Fuller appearance
Still accessible to pollinators

Double Flowers:

Many petals
Rose-like appearance
Less nectar access for pollinators

Spurless (Whirlybird types):

No nectar spur
Upward-facing flowers
Better rain shedding

Foliage Types

Type	Features	Examples
Standard	Round, solid green	Most varieties
Variegated	Cream/green markings	Alaska series
Blue-green	Dark, blue-tinged	Empress of India
Light green	Pale, fresh-looking	Some trailing types

Variety Selection Guide

Classic Heirloom Varieties

Variety	Type	Height	Features
Empress of India	Compact	12-15"	Blue-green leaves, scarlet flowers
Jewel Mix	Compact	12-15"	Multiple colors, long bloom
Alaska Mix	Compact	12"	Variegated foliage
Tall Trailing Mix	Trailing	6-10'	Classic climber
Black Velvet	Compact	12-15"	Deep burgundy, near-black

Modern Improved Varieties

Variety	Type	Features
Whirlybird Series	Compact	Spurless, upward-facing
Tip Top Series	Compact	Apricot and mahogany shades
Gleam Series	Semi-trailing	Semi-double flowers
Phoenix	Trailing	Heat tolerant
Milkmaid	Compact	Cream/pale yellow

By Color

Color	Varieties
Red/Scarlet	Empress of India, Spitfire
Orange	Whirlybird Orange, Jewel Mix
Yellow	Moonlight, Canary Creeper
Cream	Milkmaid, Moonlight
Mahogany	Black Velvet, Tip Top Mahogany
Bicolors	Ladybird, Peach Melba

Selection by Use

Container Growing

Container	Best Varieties
Hanging baskets	Gleam, Trailing types
Window boxes	Whirlybird, Alaska
Large pots	Jewel Mix, Empress
Mixed containers	Compact types as fillers

Culinary Garden

Priority	Varieties
Flavor	All similar peppery taste
Appearance	Mix colors for visual appeal
Leaf harvest	Alaska (also ornamental)
Seed production	Trailing types produce more

Trap Cropping

Situation	Varieties
Vegetable garden	Tall Trailing (visible beacon)
Space-limited	Compact types near vegetables
Maximum attraction	Any—all attract aphids

Cut Flowers

Considerations	Approach
Vase life	Short (2-3 days)
Best types	Single flowers, long stems
Harvest	Morning, place immediately in water

Growing Techniques

Succession Planting

Planting	Timing	Purpose
1	After last frost	Early flowers
2	3-4 weeks later	Mid-season
3	6-8 weeks later	Fall harvest

Training Trailing Types

Support	Method
Trellis	Guide initial growth
Fence	Weave through openings
Twine	Create vertical strings
Ground cover	Let sprawl naturally

Pinching for Bushiness

When	Method	Result
6-8 inches	Remove growing tip	More branches
Optional	Repeat on branches	Very bushy
Trade-off	Delays first flowers	More total flowers

Culinary Applications

Flower Uses

Fresh:

Application	Tips
Salads	Remove green parts
Garnish	Float on soups
Stuffed	Fill with herbed cream cheese
Ice cubes	Freeze in water

Preserved:

Method	Application
Vinegar infusion	Flavored vinegar
Sugar crystallized	Cake decoration
Oil infusion	Nasturtium oil

Leaf Uses

Application	Tips
Salads	Young leaves mildest
Wraps	Use like lettuce leaves
Pesto	Replace basil
Sautéed	Quick-cook like spinach
Sandwiches	Layer for peppery bite

Nasturtium Pesto Recipe:

2 cups nasturtium leaves
1/2 cup walnuts or pine nuts
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt to taste

Seed Pods ("Poor Man's Capers")

Stage	Use
Green (young)	Best for pickling
Larger green	Still good
Brown (mature)	Too hard, save for planting

Pickling Method:

Harvest green pods
Soak in salted water overnight
Pack in jars
Cover with hot vinegar (can add garlic, peppercorns)
Cure 2-3 weeks before using

Nutritional Profile

Nutrient	Significance
Vitamin C	Very high
Iron	Significant
Manganese	Good source
Lutein	Highest of any edible plant
Glucosinolates	Peppery compounds, cancer-fighting

Design Strategies

Color Schemes

Hot/Warm:

Flowers	Partners
Red, orange, yellow	Marigolds, zinnias

Cool/Subtle:

Flowers	Partners
Cream, peach	Dusty miller, lavender

Bold Contrasts:

Flowers	Partners
Orange + blue	Blue salvia, lobelia
Red + silver	Artemisia, lamb's ear

Companion Plantings

Vegetable Garden:

Placement	Purpose
Border	Trap crop, ornamental
Interplanted	Direct pest protection
Edges	Visual and pest barrier

Ornamental Garden:

Style	Use
Cottage	Mixed with other annuals
Tropical	Hot colors, large leaves
Contemporary	Single color, geometric

Container Combinations

Thriller-Filler-Spiller:

Role	Nasturtium Use
Thriller	N/A (use something taller)
Filler	Compact varieties
Spiller	Trailing varieties

Mono-Culture:

Container	Approach
Hanging basket	Single trailing variety
Large pot	Mix colors same type
Window box	Compact in row

Extending the Season

Late Season Strategies

Strategy	Implementation
Protection	Cover before frost
Succession	Later plantings still blooming
Self-seeding	Allow seeds to drop

Overwintering (Mild Climates)

Zone	Possibility
10-11	May persist as perennial
9	Sometimes overwinters
8 and below	Treat as annual

Indoor Growing

Factor	Requirement
Light	Very bright (south window)
Temperature	Cool (55-70°F)
Humidity	Average
Bloom	Sparse indoors

Seed Production and Saving

For Best Seeds

Strategy	Details
Selection	Save from best plants
Isolation	50+ feet for purity
Allow	Seeds to dry on plant
Collect	Before they scatter

Storage

Factor	Specification
Container	Paper envelope
Conditions	Cool, dry, dark
Label	Variety and year
Viability	5+ years

Regional Adaptations

Hot Climates

Challenge	Solution
Heat stress	Afternoon shade
Sunburn	Mulch, regular water
Best types	Trailing (more vigorous)

Cool/Short Season

Challenge	Solution
Late start	Start indoors (carefully)
Cold soil	Wait for warm soil
Best types	Fast varieties (Whirlybird)

Humid Climates

Challenge	Solution
Aphids	Accept as trap crop
Fungal issues	Good air circulation
Spacing	Wider than normal

Understanding nasturtium diversity enables gardeners to create beautiful, productive, and ecologically valuable plantings while enjoying their culinary versatility.