19 Beautiful Nasturtium Varieties to Grow this Season
Nasturtiums are bright, beautiful, and useful, too! These beautiful flowering plants are a great addition to every home garden. Here are some of our favorite varieties to help you choose the perfect one (or two) for your space.
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It’s not a difficult task to extol the virtues of nasturtium. It’s positively one of the loveliest little plants around. With lily pad-like foliage and bright, cheerful flowers that seem to pop up day after day with little attention, this is a great plant to add to every garden.
Nasturtiums are beautiful and also entirely edible. The flowers and leaves are nice for garnishing and adding to cold dishes and salads. They add a surprising and enchanting touch to a charcuterie board. The leaves have a tangy, peppery kick, and the flowers are slightly milder but have a similar flavor profile.
On top of their ornamental and decorative uses, they are great for planting in the vegetable garden for pest control. They don’t repel pests the way that marigolds do, though. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop. Many common pests are more attracted to them than to your tomatoes and snap peas.
These lovely annuals grow and bloom quickly, and have either a trailing or mounding habit, depending on the variety. Give them a spot with full exposure and well-draining soil. They’re not picky about nutrients; they will grow just fine in poor soil types. Here are some of my favorite nasturtium varieties that look wonderful in the veggie garden and beyond.
‘Alaska Variegated’
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common name ‘Alaska Variegated’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Alaska Variegated’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 10”-12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
As if the leaves weren’t pretty enough, ‘Alaska Variegated’ has stunning cream variegation on its leaves, and it’s glorious! This is a mounding variety with blooms in different shades of yellow, orange, and red. The cool, splashy leaves are perfect for adding to a special salad or just leaving to spruce up the garden.
Nasturtiums do attract certain nuisance pests, but they aren’t bothered by deer or rabbits. They have a light and airy appearance that makes them nice for adding to container arrangements as a filler or spiller.
‘Vesuvius’
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common name ‘Vesuvius’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Vesuvius’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Vesuvius’ has been around for a long time and shows no sign of losing popularity. It’s a mounding cultivar with peachy salmon blooms. The flowers have deep red markings on the inside, which gives them a bit of extra flash and sass.
Nasturtiums are perennial in zones 9-11, although I find that they don’t thrive in hot, humid summers. If you can keep them going through the heat, they will perk back up in the fall.
‘Spitfire’
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common name ‘Spitfire’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Spitfire’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1’-2’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Spitfire’ is our first trailing nasturtium variety. I love the trailing cultivars spilling over the side of a raised bed or climbing a trellis. They are such graceful plants. This one has scarlet flowers with a maroon throat. The flowers on this variety are fragrant, adding a little extra charm where there is so much already!
In warm climates, nasturtiums usually begin to bloom earlier. They can flower in late winter and typically finish by early summer. In cooler climates, they will last through the summer and into the fall.
‘Black Velvet’
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common name ‘Black Velvet’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Black Velvet’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 10”-12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Black Velvet’ is a true stunner. This mounding variety has deep, dark, nearly black flowers with a velvety sheen. The contrast between the oxblood blooms and the vivid green leaves is incredibly striking.
If you want to impress in the culinary or entertaining sphere, this is a perfect variety to grow. Guests will marvel over these beautiful flowers wherever you use them.
‘Purple Emperor’
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common name ‘Purple Emperor’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Purple Emperor’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 6′-7′ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
This is one of my favorite nasturtium varieties that I’m growing this year, and I can’t wait for them to start blooming! ‘Purple Emperor’ is a trailing variety, and you can train it to climb as well. I’m hoping for a raised bed overflowing with beautiful nasturtiums!
‘Purple Emperor’ has a lovely color combination. When it first opens, the blooms are raspberry with burgundy accents. As they age, they fade to a soft, dusky purple with bits of red and a yellow throat.
‘Peach Melba’
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common name ‘Peach Melba’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Peach Melba’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 10”-14” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
As sweet as its namesake dessert, ‘Peach Melba’ is creamy and dreamy, with an unmistakable tang. It’s one of the more high-contrast varieties I’ve seen and quite an attention-grabber as a result.
A shrubby cultivar, this one has large, soft leaves in deep, cool blue-green. Warm, creamy yellow flowers float on those lily pad look-alikes with a bright pop of orange in the center.
‘Ladybird Gold’
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common name ‘Ladybird Gold’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Ladybird Gold’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Many of the more popular nasturtiums that pop up at nurseries are the T. majus species. They are wonderful and dramatic, but T. minor has a refinement and beauty all its own. This species is petite and a bit more compact in all senses. ‘Ladybird Gold’ is as perfect as it gets.
The leaves are deep green and have the same pleasing shape, but on a smaller scale. The flowers, too, are more petite, but they are a shocking shade of gold with tiny flecks of red, so their size doesn’t take away from their presence.
‘Cherry Rose Jewel’
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common name ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 10″-12″ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Cherry Rose Jewel’ is every bit as pretty as it sounds. This is a semi-trailing variety, so it will spill over the side of a planter splendidly. In certain climates, the trailing type can be a bit bossy, but this one will grow just large enough.
The flowers are as pretty as they get. Cherry rose describes the color perfectly. These glowing blossoms are incredible in the garden and impressive when leaving the kitchen.
‘Empress of India’
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common name ‘Empress of India’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Empress of India’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1′-2′ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Empress of India’ is regal and refined. The leaves are small, perfect parasols. They’re much deeper green than most cultivars. The flowers are the brightest red you can imagine. They almost glow at dusk.
The delicate foliage makes this a great focal point in a small-scale garden. It would be perfect for popping in a raised bed with some herbs to keep outside the kitchen door.
‘Butterscotch’
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common name ‘Butterscotch’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Butterscotch’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 10”-12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Another sugary sweet nasturtium, ‘Butterscotch,’ is like rays of light that spilled over and decided to stay in the garden. It’s a compact cultivar that will stay a little smaller than most.
The contrast between the flowers and leaves of this one is really striking. The warm, buttery, candy orange and yellow blooms radiate warmth against the cool, blue leaves.
‘Tip Top Mahogany’
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common name ‘Tip Top Mahogany’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Tip Top Mahogany’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
The Tip Top series is from the T. minus species, so ‘Tip Top Mahogany’ is a compact variety with petite leaves and flowers. It’s no less beautiful than larger varieties and works well in container arrangements.
The prefect blooms are crimson with a yellow throat, a classic combination that butterflies and hummingbirds adore. The foliage is bright, bordering on light green, and lights up the garden!
‘Baby Rose’
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common name ‘Baby Rose’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Baby Rose’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Baby Rose’ is a lovely miniature and a 2019 All America Selections Winner. It’s also a recipient of the Fleuroselect Gold Medal. This award winner is great for those with a smaller garden who still want the look of nasturtium, without the spread.
This one has a lovely color contrast that is perfectly complementary. The scarlet blooms have a warm yellow throat. They work perfectly with the cool, blue-green foliage.
‘Milkmaid’
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common name ‘Milkmaid’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Milkmaid’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Milkmaid’ is compact for a T. majus cultivar. It’s as bright and cheery as any daisy, and has a bushy habit, so it stays put if that is your preference. In areas with hot summers, give your nasturtiums some afternoon shade, and they will stand up better to the heat.
The soft, buttery yellow of these blooms has a darker throat, giving them depth and dimension. This one isn’t as high contrast, but it has a soft, pleasing effect in the garden.
‘Salmon Baby’
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common name ‘Salmon Baby’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Salmon Baby’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
I love this cultivar for its pretty salmon blooms. Their uniquely ruffled petals make them extra fancy, and perfect for sprucing up that grazing table at your next baby or bridal shower.
‘Salmon Baby’ stays compact and won’t overwhelm its neighbors. The flowers are bright and beautiful against the deep forest green of the foliage.
‘Orchid Cream’
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common name ‘Orchid Cream’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Orchid Cream’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
If you’re an orchid lover, this is the perfect nasturtium for your garden. The creamy yellow blossoms have splashes of deep burgundy in a pattern that echoes a fancy phalaenopsis.
‘Orchid Cream’ is a rarer variety to find at local nurseries, but nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed. They grow quickly, blooming in less than two months.
‘Orchid Flame’
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common name ‘Orchid Flame’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Orchid Flame’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
This cultivar is similar to ‘Orchid Cream’ but a bit flashier. ‘Orchid Flame’ has soft yellow blooms with oxblood markings and a brilliant splash of scarlet tipping each petal. A dark red throat has noteworthy orange stamens.
‘Orchid Flame’ has spicy looks to match its flavor. Put these greens on a pizza in place of arugula with a little goat cheese, magnifique!
‘Phoenix’
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common name ‘Phoenix’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Phoenix’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12″ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
‘Phoenix’ is unique with fiery blooms in shades from deep orange to tangerine. The petals are toothy and narrower than usual, with fine hairs that give them some extra intrigue.
With vivid green foliage and those extra flashy and fun flowers, this is a great nasturtium variety to show off in the herb garden or hanging planters near an outdoor living space.
‘Ladybird Rose’
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common name ‘Ladybird Rose’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Ladybird Rose’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Another sweet and petite ‘Ladybird’ cultivar, ‘Ladybird Rose,’ is charming and coy with soft peach flowers. The streaks of rose-red radiating from the center expose just a touch of spiciness in her personality
The leaves also have a softness in a medium blue-green shade with a bright white starburst in the center. I love this variety as a standalone in a hanging basket or white ceramic planter.
‘Bloody Mary’
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common name ‘Bloody Mary’ |
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botanical name Tropaeolum minus ‘Bloody Mary’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 16”-20” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Finally, ‘Bloody Mary’ is my selection for my own herb garden this year. It’s semi-trailing, so I can’t wait to see it spill over the edge of my raised beds. I chose this one for the variation in colors, it’s quite fancy.
They have primarily red blooms, as one might expect. Splashes of cream and coral make them showier than average. They stand out against blue-green leaves, and put on quite a spectacle, like their namesake during her brief, but memorable reign.
