Plant Name
Scientific Name: Tropaeolum majus
Common Names: Nasturtium, Garden Nasturtium
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual, Perennial
Growth Habit: Vine, Herb/Forb
Hawaii Native Status: Introduced. This naturalized ornamental and edible garden plant is native to Brazil and Peru.
Flower Color: Brilliant orange, Yellow, Red, Cream (cultivated), Pink (cultivated)
Height: Climbing or trailing to 5 feet (1.5 m) or more.
Description: The flowers are up to 2 1/3 inches (6 cm) in diameter and have 5 petals and 5 sepals. The seeds are large, light brown, and wrinkled. The leaves are bright green, round in shape, and peltate with palmate veins radiating from the petiole.
Special Characteristics
Edible – The flowers and young leaves are edible and can be used in salads. They have a hot, peppery, watercress-like flavor. The seeds are also edible and can be dried and ground as a pepper substitute.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Geraniales
Family: Tropaeolaceae – Nasturtium family
Genus: Tropaeolum L. – nasturtium
Species: Tropaeolum majus L. – nasturtium
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