Mexican Cress Tropaeolum majus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Nasturtium officinale
- Phonetic Spelling
- tro-pay-OH-lum MAY-jus
- Description
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Common nasturtium is a warm-weather annual with long stems, parasol-like leaves, and spurred 5-petaled flowers. It is popular in various types of gardens. Available in both climbing and bushy forms. The bushy dwarf types range from 12" tall and 2' wide. Those are a great choice for beds, borders, ground covers, rock gardens or other mass plantings. The climbing types that can grow up to 10' tall can quickly cover fences, trellises, and banks.
The genus name comes from the Greek word tropaion meaning a trophy and the Latin word tropaeum named by Linnaeus for its resemblance to a classical trophy.
It grows best in poor to average, well-drained soil in full sun, but with some afternoon shade in hot summers. Fertilizing will increase foliage, however, will also decrease flowering.
It is tolerant of both drought and neglect.
Leaves, buds, flowers, pods, and seeds are edible with a spicy, peppery taste. Flowers are a colorful addition to salads, and seeds can be used as a substitute for capers. The buds contain mustard oil and are used as a seasoning.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Self-seeding can cause the plant to spread.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alaska Hybrids'
Dwarf-bushy, up to 12” tall, with white spotted leaves - 'Cherry Rose Jewel'
Rose colored blooms, semi-double. Compact. 12-18" - 'Double Gleam Hybrids'
Semi-double, fragrant, semi-trailing. 12" - 'Empress of India'
Crimson/purple, compact, 12" - 'Gleam Hybrids'
Mixed color, double green semi-trailing, 2" - 'Hermine Grasshof'
Red, double green compact, 9-12" - 'Jewel Hybrids'
Mixed color, marbled vine to 8' - 'Jewel of Africa'
Climbing up to 8' tall. Red, yellow, orange, and cream flowers. white spotted leaves - 'Moonlight'
Light yellow, green vine to 6' - 'Park's Fragrant Giants'
Mixed colors, green trailing vine - 'Peach Melba'
Yellow, red blotched, green, compact to 12" - 'Salmon Baby'
Salmon pink, fringed green, compact to 12" - 'Strawberries and Cream'
Yellow red blotched, green compact, 9-12" - 'Strawberry Ice'
Gold, red blotched, bluish foliage, compact to 9" - Tip Top Hybrids'
Mixed color, green foliage, compact to 8" - 'Tom Thumb Hybrids'
Mixed color, green foliage, 8-10" - 'Whirlybird Cream'
Creamy yellow, semi-double, green foliage, compact, 9-12" - 'Whirlybird Hybrids'
Mixed color, semi-double, green foliage, compact, 9-12"
- 'Alaska Hybrids'
- 'Alaska Hybrids', 'Cherry Rose Jewel', 'Double Gleam Hybrids', 'Empress of India', 'Gleam Hybrids', 'Hermine Grasshof', 'Jewel Hybrids', 'Jewel of Africa', 'Moonlight', 'Park's Fragrant Giants', 'Peach Melba', 'Salmon Baby', 'Strawberries and Cream', 'Strawberry Ice', Tip Top Hybrids', 'Tom Thumb Hybrids', 'Whirlybird Cream', 'Whirlybird Hybrids'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alaska Hybrids'
Dwarf-bushy, up to 12” tall, with white spotted leaves - 'Cherry Rose Jewel'
Rose colored blooms, semi-double. Compact. 12-18" - 'Double Gleam Hybrids'
Semi-double, fragrant, semi-trailing. 12" - 'Empress of India'
Crimson/purple, compact, 12" - 'Gleam Hybrids'
Mixed color, double green semi-trailing, 2" - 'Hermine Grasshof'
Red, double green compact, 9-12" - 'Jewel Hybrids'
Mixed color, marbled vine to 8' - 'Jewel of Africa'
Climbing up to 8' tall. Red, yellow, orange, and cream flowers. white spotted leaves - 'Moonlight'
Light yellow, green vine to 6' - 'Park's Fragrant Giants'
Mixed colors, green trailing vine - 'Peach Melba'
Yellow, red blotched, green, compact to 12" - 'Salmon Baby'
Salmon pink, fringed green, compact to 12" - 'Strawberries and Cream'
Yellow red blotched, green compact, 9-12" - 'Strawberry Ice'
Gold, red blotched, bluish foliage, compact to 9" - Tip Top Hybrids'
Mixed color, green foliage, compact to 8" - 'Tom Thumb Hybrids'
Mixed color, green foliage, 8-10" - 'Whirlybird Cream'
Creamy yellow, semi-double, green foliage, compact, 9-12" - 'Whirlybird Hybrids'
Mixed color, semi-double, green foliage, compact, 9-12"
- 'Alaska Hybrids'
- 'Alaska Hybrids', 'Cherry Rose Jewel', 'Double Gleam Hybrids', 'Empress of India', 'Gleam Hybrids', 'Hermine Grasshof', 'Jewel Hybrids', 'Jewel of Africa', 'Moonlight', 'Park's Fragrant Giants', 'Peach Melba', 'Salmon Baby', 'Strawberries and Cream', 'Strawberry Ice', Tip Top Hybrids', 'Tom Thumb Hybrids', 'Whirlybird Cream', 'Whirlybird Hybrids'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tropaeolum
- Species:
- majus
- Family:
- Tropaeolaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and South America
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies are attracted to this plant.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Edibility:
- All parts, with exception of the roots, are edible. It has a spicy flavor.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herb
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are long-stalked, spurred, funnel-shaped, 5-petaled flowers (2.5” wide); red, orange, yellow, pink and cream. They can be single or double.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Peltate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rounded, long-petioled, parasol-like leaves with light colored veins. The shape is peltate (petioles attached near the center of each leaf). They may be variegated.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
