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Climber Wall ShrubConservatory Greenhouse

Tropaeolum azureum

blue nasturtium

A summer-dormant, perennial climber to 1m in height, with small, palmate leaves and short-spurred, sky-blue flowers, with a creamy centre, produced in late spring

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Tropaeolaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
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
Plant range: Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

Needs winter protection except in very mild areas. Grow under glass in a deep container of peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added fine grit, starting into growth in autumn and allowing to go dormant after flowering. Requires good light, but with shade from hot sunshine

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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