Tropaeolum majus

Annual ~ Height 30cm ~ Hardy

One of the most colourful herbs and a popular garden flower, nasturtiums have bright orange and yellow flowers throughout summer.

Both the leaves, which have a peppery taste, and the flowers are edible and can be used in salads. The seeds can be pickled as a substitute for capers or the flowers used to flavour vinegar.

A good companion plant, nasturtiums deter aphids, especially whitefly, squash bugs and woolly aphids.  They also attract blackfly to themselves.

Plant in relatively poor soil for the best production of flowers. Requires plenty of moisture.