Nasturtium: The Flower You Can Eat (Peppery Like Watercress)
Nasturtium is an edible flower with peppery leaves and flowers. It’s easy to grow, thrives in poor soil, and attracts pollinators.
Every part of nasturtium is edible — leaves, flowers, and seed pods.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Days to sprout | 7-14 |
| Days to harvest | 50-60 |
| Sun | 4-6 hours |
| Spacing | 12 inches |
| Height | 1-10 feet (depends on variety) |
| Colors | Orange, red, yellow, cream |
Why Grow It
- Entirely edible. Leaves, flowers, seed pods.
- Peppery flavor. Like watercress.
- Poor soil tolerant. Too much fertilizer = no flowers.
- Attracts pollinators. Bees and hummingbirds.
How It Fails
Failure 1: Too much fertilizer. All leaves, no flowers. Failure 2: Aphids. Common. Hose off. Failure 3: Cabbage worms. Green caterpillars. Hand-pick.
Comparison
| Variety | Habit | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bush | Compact | 1-2 ft | Containers |
| Trailing | Vining | 6-10 ft | Ground cover |
| Dwarf | Compact | 1 ft | Small spaces |
| Alaska | Variegated | 1-2 ft | Colorful leaves |
Common Questions
What parts are edible? All — leaves, flowers, seed pods.
How do seed pods taste? Like capers. Pickle them.
Why no flowers? Too much fertilizer. Poor soil = more flowers.
Can I grow it in containers? Yes. Bush varieties work best.
Do bees like it? Yes. And hummingbirds.
Is it a perennial? Annual in most climates.