Nasturtiums: varieties and biodiversity

Flaming flowers and spicy heat make the nasturtium so attractive. We have put together the most beautiful varieties for your garden.

The most appealing thing about the different varieties is the variety of colors, because from July overflows Nasturtiums the garden with a veritable sea of ​​flowers. More and more buds keep appearing until autumn. The play of colors is not brought to an abrupt end until the first night frosts, because the native South American is extremely sensitive to the cold.

The flowers of most cultivars glow in the colors of the sunset - bright yellow tones, flaming red and orange tones and velvety wine red. Some varieties even surprise with different colored flowers on a plant, so that the variety of colors does not have to suffer from a lack of space! Particularly suitable for the Cultivation in the pot are varieties of the lesser nasturtium (Tropaeolum minor), which, in contrast to their larger relatives, only grows approx. 30 cm high and rather bushy grows. The greater nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), on the other hand, forms 1 to 3 m long tendrils.

• Banana split: Attractive, banana-yellow flowers and an overhanging habit make this variety the perfect pot plant on the terrace and balcony.
• Black Velvet: This variety impresses with its velvety, black-red flowers.
• Milkmaid: Creamy white flowers adorn this variety and give it a delicate appearance.
• Phoenix: Phoenix is ​​a real feast for the eyes: Its flowers impress with their yellow, red and apricot-colored tones and an unusual shape with fringed petals.
• Variegated Queen: This variety does not bear its title for nothing, because it is truly royal to look at! It has white-green speckled foliage and the splendor of the flowers ranges from bright sunny yellow to strong red.
• Vesuvius: Historic variety with bushy growth and salmon-pink flowers.
• Whirlybird Rose: Pink, semi-double flowers and a bushy growth make this variety so attractive.

In addition, two other types of nasturtium are often found in stores:

• Canarian nasturtiums (Tropaeolum peregrinum): The fringed flowers in bright yellow and the hand-shaped lobed leaves make this species a feast for the eyes. Compared to the large nasturtium, it is easier to climb and can grow up to four meters high. It owes its name to large game populations in the Canary Islands.
• Tuberous nasturtiums (Tropaeolum tuberosum): The tuberous nasturtium is a real rarity. This is grown in South America as a frugal tuber vegetable, but it is only edible after it has been exposed to frost. Gardeners who are only interested in the ornamental value of the tuberous nasturtiums can overwinter the tubers frost-free like dahlias and plant them again from April.

In addition to the nasturtium, the garden cress is particularly popular. We give helpful tips on Cultivation of garden cress in your own garden.

Previous posts