Tropaeolum majus

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Tropaeolaceae

Genus

Tropaeolum

Life cycle

perennial

Woodiness

woody

Growth rate

vigorous

Height

3.5 m

Spread

1.5 m

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw^{[5][20][2][3][16][17]}. A hot watercress flavour^[4]. Very nice on its own or as a flavouring in mixed salads[K]. Rich in vitamin C^[8]. The leaves are available from early summer until the first frosts of the autumn[K]. Flowers - raw^{[5][20][2][16][17][4]}. A very ornamental and tasty addition to the salad bowl, the flowers have a hot watercress flavour and are available all through the summer[7, K]. The flowers contain about 130mg vitamin C per 100g^[11]. Young seed pods - raw^{[5][2][3][16][17]}. These are even hotter than the flowers or leaves[K]. They can also be harvested whilst immature and pickled for use as a caper substitute^[4][13]. Seed - raw or cooked^[1]. Very hot[K]. The mature seed can be ground into a powder and used as a pepper substitute^[4]. The seed contains 26% protein and 10% oil^[11].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Nasturtium has long been used in Andean herbal medicine as a disinfectant and wound-healing herb, and as an expectorant to relieve chest conditions^[15]. All parts of the plant appear to be antibiotic and an infusion of the leaves can be used to increase resistance to bacterial infections and to clear nasal and bronchial catarrh^[15]. The remedy seems to both reduce catarrh formation and stimulate the clearing and coughing up of phlegm^[15]. The leaves are antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, aperient, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, laxative and stimulant^[20][10][13]. A glycoside found in the plant reacts with water to produce an antibiotic^[13]. The plant has antibiotic properties towards aerobic spore forming bacteria^[19]. Extracts from the plant have anticancer activity^[11]. The plant is taken internally in the treatment of genito-urinary diseases, respiratory infections, scurvy and poor skin and hair conditions^[13]. Externally it makes an effective antiseptic wash and is used in the treatment of baldness, minor injuries and skin eruptions^[13]. Any part of the plant can be used, it is harvested during the growing season and used fresh^[13].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seeds yield a high percentage of a drying oil that can be used in making paints, varnish etc^[20]. The growing plant attracts aphids away from other plants. Research indicates that aphids flying over plants with orange or yellow flowers do not stop, nor do they prey on plants growing next to or above the flowers^[8]. An insecticide can be made from an infusion of leaves and soap flakes^[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Climber

Environment

Range

S. America - Peru. A garden escape, locally naturalized in parts Europe^[18].

Habitat

Not known

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 9+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tolerates most soils^[9], though it prefers a rich light well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade^[2][3][17]. More and lusher leaves are produced when the plant is growing in a rich soil, though less flowers are produced^[13]. When grown in a soil of low fertility the leaves are smaller and less lush, though more flowers are produced[200, K] The plant will also succeed in very poor soils^[9]. It dislikes drought^[17]. This species is not frost hardy in Britain but it is often grown in the flower garden as an annual when it will frequently self-sow^[17]. In cold springs, however, the seed will often not germinate until mid or even late summer, which is too late to produce a reasonable crop[K]. A very ornamental and free-flowering species, it is often in bloom from early summer until cut down by the autumn frosts[K]. A climbing plant, it supports itself by twisting its leaf stalks around other plants etc^[12]. There are many named varieties, some of which are low-growing forms that do not climb[183, 202, K]. The flowers have a very pleasing mild scent^[14]. The Gleam Hybrid cultivars are more strongly scented^[14]. A good companion plant in the garden, growing well with radishes, cabbages and fruit trees, improving their growth and flavour^[2][6]. A good companion for many plants, keeping many harmful insects at bay and also improving the growth and flavour of neighbouring crops^[8]. Aphids on nasturtiums indicate a lime deficiency in the soil^[6]. Slugs and snails love eating this plant, so it can be grown to attract them away from other plants^[8]. The caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly can be a nuisance and often cause considerable damage to the leaves^[12].

Associations and interactions

Related plants

• Tropaeolum brachyceras
• Tropaeolum leptophyllum
• Tropaeolum minusDwarf Nasturtium
• Tropaeolum patagonicum

References

1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

   ↩

2. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

3. Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-273-00098-5

   ↩1↩2↩3

4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

   ↩1↩2↩3

6. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

   ↩1↩2

7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

8. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

9. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

   ↩1↩2

10. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

11. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

12. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

14. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

15. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

16. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

17. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

18. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

19. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

20. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4