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Annual Biennial

Tropaeolum minus

dwarf nasturtium

A bushy annual, up to 50cm high, with rounded, shield-shaped ('peltate') leaves up to 8cm across, edged with tiny teeth where the veins meet the leaf margin. Rich orange or reddish orange flowers, with pointed tips to the petals and sometimes with purple veins or with red blotches at the base, are borne singly in the leaf axils from early summer into autumn

Other common names
Indian-cress
small tropaeolum
see moreyellow Larke's-heeles
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Orange Red Green
Autumn Orange Red Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Tropaeolaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus

Tropaeolum can be annuals or perennials, bushy, trailing or climbing by twining stems, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and showy funnel-shaped flowers with five long-clawed petals and often a spur

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown in poor, well-drained soil; if the soil is too rich foliage will be produced at the expense of flowers. Will tolerate light shade but flowering is better in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown under glass in spring and planted out after danger of frost has passed. May self-seed in place in good conditions, but germination is often too late to produce good flowers

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

No pruning required. Deadhead to encourage further flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite and whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to virus diseases

Get involved

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