Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus, Sp. Pl.: errata, last page (1753))

Family: Tropaeolaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: errata, last page (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Tropaeolum

Vegetable: False

Observations: a cultigen from Peru

Description

Garden nasturtium, known scientifically as Tropaeolum majus, is a vibrant and versatile plant admired for its delightful blossoms and ease of cultivation. Originally hailing from Peru, this perennial species has been a cherished addition to gardens around the world for centuries.

The Tropaeolaceae family, to which the garden nasturtium belongs, is renowned for producing plants with stunning, colorful displays, and Tropaeolum majus is no exception. Its flowers, which range in color from brilliant reds and oranges to soft yellows, are not only visually appealing but also edible. These blossoms add a peppery zest to salads and garnishes, making them a popular choice for culinary enthusiasts.

Beyond its aesthetic and culinary value, garden nasturtium is also appreciated for its ease of growth and maintenance. It thrives best in well-drained soil and prefers full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade. This resilient plant can be grown from seeds with minimal effort, making it ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners alike. Furthermore, its sprawling growth habit makes it an excellent ground cover, and it can even be used to climb trellises and fences, adding vertical interest to garden spaces.

Interestingly, Tropaeolum majus is not just a decorative plant; it also serves as a natural pest deterrent. Its presence in the garden can help repel aphids, whiteflies, and other unwanted insects, making it an eco-friendly addition to integrated pest management strategies.

The garden nasturtium has a rich horticultural history, with references to its cultivation dating back to the 18th century, specifically mentioned in Sp. Pl.: errata, last page (1753) by the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus, abbreviated as L. in botanical citations. This historical context underscores its longstanding value and significance in gardening traditions.

Overall, the garden nasturtium is a beautiful, functional, and historically significant plant that continues to bring joy and practicality to gardens worldwide.

Common Names

Dan: blomsterkarse
Ita: cappuccina, nasturzio comune
Fra: capucine, grande capucine, cresson d’inde
Eng: garden nasturtium, indian cress, nasturtium
Deu: gewöhnliche kapuzinerkresse, große kapuzinerkresse, kapuzinerkresse
Spa: maranuela, bequera, capuchina, capuchinas, caputxina, espuela de galán, flor de la sangre, llagas de cristo, llaguera, mastuerzo, mastuerzo de indias, morissà, morritort d´indies, naranjito, taco de reina
Por: capuchinha, chagas, mastruço-do-peru
Swe: indiankrasse
Ces: kapucínka va, lichořeřišnice větší
Hun: nagy sarkantyúka
Nld: oost-indische kers
Cym: capan cornicyll, copa cornicyll, meri a mari
Lat: nasturtium
En: Garden nasturtium, Indian cress, Nasturtium, Garden-Nasturtium, Monks Cress, Great Indian Cress, Yellow Larkspur, Chinese juniper, Common nasturtium, Garden Nasturnium
Af: Kappertijies, Kappertjie
Ar: كبوسين كبير, نبات الكبوسين, Abu khanjar, Nabatu al-kabbusin, أبو خنجر, نَباتُ الكَبُّوسِين
Hy: Հնդկոտեմ բարձր
Az: Böyük ərikgülü
Ca: Caputxina
Zh: Han jin lian, 旱金莲, 金蓮花
Hr: Dragoljub
Cs: Lichořeřišnice větší, Kapucínka va
Da: Tallerkensmækker, Blomsterkarse
Nl: Oostindische kers, Oost-Indische Kers, Kapucijn
Et: Suur mungalill
Fi: Köynnöskrassi, Isoköynnöskrassi
Fr: Cresson d’Inde, Grande capucine, “Capucine à grandes fleurs, Grande capucine”, Capucine, Capucine du Pérou, Capucine à grandes fleurs
De: Kapuzinerkresse, Grosse Kapuzinerkresse, Große Kapuzinerkresse, Gewöhnliche Kapuzinerkresse, Indische Kresse
He: כובע הנזיר
Hu: Kerti sarkantyúka, Nagy sarkantyúka
Io: Kapuchino
It: Nasturzio comune, Nasturzio, Cappuccina, Tropaeolum majus, Nasturzio del Perù, Nasturzio indiano, Nastuzio, Cappucina, Fior
Ko: 한련
La: Nasturtium
Lt: Didžioji nasturtė
Mk: Лазибубе
No: Vanlig blomkarse
Fa: گل لادن
Pl: Nasturcja Większa
Pt: Chagas, Cinco-Chagas, Capuchinha, Mastruço-do-peru, Chaga seca
Ru: Капуцин большой, Настурция майская
Sr: Драгољуб
Sk: Kapucínka väčšia
Es: Capuchina, Mastuerzo, Espuela de Galán, Flor de la Sangre, Llagas de Cristo, Marañuela, Mastuerzo de Indias, Pelón, Velika kapucinka, Maranuela, Bequera, Capuchinas, Caputxina, Llaguera, Morissà, Morritort d´Indies, Naranjito, Taco de reina, Tropaeolum majus, Nasturcia, Pajarillo
Sv: Indiankrasse
Zh-tw: 金蓮花
Zh-hant: 旱金蓮
Tr: Latin Çiçeği
Uk: Красоля велика
Cy: Capan cornicyll, Copa Cornicyll, Meri a Mari

Synonyms

• Nasturtium indicum (Garsault)
• Tropaeolum majus var. plenum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum atrosanguineum (Gordon)
• Tropaeolum majus var. regelianum (Alef.)
• Trophaeum zanderi ((A.Dietr.) Kuntze)
• Tropaeolum majus var. schillingii (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum pinnatum (Andrews)
• Trophaeum pinnatum ((Andrews) Kuntze)
• Trophaeum majus ((L.) Kuntze)
• Trophaeum naudinii ((É.Morren) Kuntze)
• Tropaeolum elatum (Salisb.)
• Tropaeolum hortense (Sparre)
• Tropaeolum majus flore-purpurea (Van Houtte)
• Trophaeum scheunerianum ((É.Morren) Kuntze)
• Trophaeum atrosanguineum ((Gordon) Kuntze)
• Tropaeolum chaixianum (É.Morren)
• Tropaeolum compactum (H.Boyce ex J.Dix)
• Tropaeolum naudinii (É.Morren)
• Cardamindum majus ((L.) Moench)
• Tropaeolum majus var. coccineum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum majus var. sordidum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum majus var. brunneum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum majus var. haageanum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum majus var. luteum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum zanderi (A.Dietr.)
• Tropaeolum majus var. scheuermannii (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum majus var. coffeinum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum repandifolium (Stokes)
• Tropaeolum majus var. carneum (Alef.)
• Tropaeolum quinquelobum (P.J.Bergius)
• Tropaeolum hybridum (L.)
• Tropaeolum scheuerianum (É.Morren)
• Tropaeolum schillingii (B.Verl.)
• Trophaeum chaixianum ((É.Morren) Kuntze)

Distribution

• Peru (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Apr 7, 2021 by Lima Eduardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Florenci Liesa (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2018 by Javier López (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 3, 2012 by Espino Cid Lois (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 24, 2021 by Bruno Mazzoni (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Feb 27, 2022 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2019 by Jason Hutsby (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 8, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Feb 25, 2018 by Sarvesh Rajput (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 9, 2018 by Víctor Toledo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2021 by martine candel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2018 by La Talaia García (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2019 by Cecilia_27 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by hombre marihuanero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 3, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 14, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2021 by Manū (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2020 by momo urba (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (gpl)

Taken May 30, 2019 by Ries Yvonne (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2019 by Joël Macé (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2020 by Kampf Robert (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 18, 2021 by Salzgurke (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Feb 1, 2021 by Shehadi Ramiz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Frank Vincentz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by hombre marihuanero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Frank Vincentz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Frank Vincentz (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2889934)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:310974-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Tropaeolum majus L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Vine, Forb/herb

Average height: {‘cm’: 30}

Growth