Illustration
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum
Nasturtium blooms from June through September.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Nasturtium
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. Expect it to reach about 12 in tall and 20 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year (not yet checked).
No toxicity note is on file for Nasturtium. That is not a clearance: check its safety for people and pets before planting.
What was checked
Mature height and spread, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not, and each fact above says which. The planting, spacing and size sections are derived from these checked facts by a fixed rule, not checked separately, and the plant type is the library's own classification.
When to plant Nasturtium
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Nasturtium into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from June to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Nasturtium get?
12 intall5 ft 7 inan adult20 inwideSee Nasturtium in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Nasturtium
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Nasturtium about 20 in apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Nasturtium to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Where these facts come from
Nasturtium's height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags were checked against 8 published sources on July 30, 2026. Each one is linked below with every fact it carried, which can include a fact this page still marks as not yet checked, because a source carrying a value is not the same as the value being held to the standard. Facts not in that list, and the planting, spacing and size sections, are not covered by these sources.
- Missouri Botanical GardenPlant Finder (Tropaeolum (group), common name nasturtium)height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- NC State ExtensionTropaeolum, the genus entryheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- University of Wisconsin HorticultureWisconsin Horticulture, Division of Extension (Nasturtium, Tropaeolum...height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- RHSRoyal Horticultural Society (Tropaeolum majus, garden nasturtium)height, spread and sun
- University of Georgia ExtensionNasturtium entry, Tropaeolum majus and T. peregrinumheight and trait tags
- Johnny's Selected SeedsNasturtium, Tropaeolum spp., key growing informationsun
- University of Illinois ExtensionIllinois Extension, Herb Gardening (Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus and T...sun
- University of Maryland ExtensionNasturtiumsun
How the checking works, and what each standard covers, is on the verified plants page.
Comes in 6 varieties across 4 colors
Same genus, similar care - pick the color you are growing.
Compare every variety in the Nasturtium group
Every figure is the variety's own page fact. Tap a name to open it.
| Variety | Color | Blooms | Hardiness | Sun | Size (H × W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cream | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 20 in |
| Empress of India | Red | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 16 in |
| Mahogany | Red | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 20 in |
| Nasturtiumthis page | Orange | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 20 in |
| Peach Melba | Orange | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 20 in |
| Salmon | Orange | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 20 in |
| Yellow | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Annual (replant yearly) | Full sun | 12 in × 20 in |
Good to know about Nasturtium
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Worth knowing
Rich, high-nitrogen soil and fertilizer push lush leaves at the expense of flowers: 'all leaves, no blooms.' Poor, lean soil gives the most bloom. per NC State
Water: drought-tough or thirsty?
Sources split: some call it drought-tough, others say regular water during growth drives the strongest bloom. Established plants survive dry spells, but water moderately for flowers. per NC State and Wisconsin
Bloom slows in summer heat
In cool, northern gardens it blooms from late spring until frost. In hot, southern summers bloom slows or stops at peak heat; light afternoon shade helps. per NC State and Clemson
The whole plant is edible
Every part but the roots is edible: leaves, buds, flowers and young seed pods, with a peppery, mustard flavor. The green pods pickle as 'poor man's capers.' per Illinois and Wisconsin
Aphid trap crop
Planted near brassicas, squash and pumpkins, it lures aphids and cabbageworms onto itself and off your vegetables. Pull heavily infested plants to remove the pests. per University of Minnesota
Deer resistant, not deer-proof
NC State lists it deer resistant, credited to the peppery mustard oils. Resistance is not immunity: young plants can still be browsed when other forage is scarce. per NC State
Feeds bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
It draws bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Nectar sits deep in a long spur behind each flower, favoring long-tongued visitors like hummingbirds, with bees and butterflies also feeding. per NC State and Clemson
What pairs well with Nasturtium
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 4 in, for the front of the border.
False Indigo
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Sea Thrift
Shares full sun and low water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it.
Viburnum
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; stands well above at 6.5 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Pampas Grass
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; stands well above at 8 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
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