Orchid Flame Nasturtium offers a vibrant display, making it a unique choice for gardeners. Its distinctive “flame-like” colors, ranging from golden yellow to deep red, create a striking visual impact in any garden space. This variety is an easy-to-grow, colorful, and adaptable plant for any landscape.
Understanding Orchid Flame Nasturtium
Orchid Flame Nasturtium is a cultivar of Tropaeolum majus, commonly known as nasturtium. Its flowers are notable for their bicolored appearance, featuring golden yellow petals with streaks of scarlet red. As the flowers mature, the red coloring can expand, creating a dynamic display where no two blooms are identical. These unique patterns give the plant its “Orchid Flame” designation.
This variety exhibits a mounding growth habit, reaching about 12 inches tall. It can also spread or cascade up to 3 to 4 feet, suiting various garden applications. Its foliage features distinctive sea-blue-green, rounded leaves that contrast strikingly with the bright blooms. It is a prolific bloomer, producing flowers from summer into autumn.
Planting and Growing Orchid Flame Nasturtium
Selecting the right location is important for Orchid Flame Nasturtium. They thrive in full sun, promoting abundant flowering. While they can tolerate partial shade, such conditions may result in fewer or smaller blooms. Well-draining, average to poor soil is ideal; rich soil or high nitrogen encourages foliage growth over flowers. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is generally suitable.
Direct sowing seeds outdoors is the recommended planting method. Plant after all danger of frost has passed in spring, typically 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost date. Seeds should be planted about 1 inch deep and spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. Soaking seeds overnight or nicking the hard seed coat aids germination, which usually takes 7 to 14 days. Keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Caring for Orchid Flame Nasturtium
Ongoing care ensures continuous blooms. Once established, they prefer consistent moisture but are drought-tolerant when mature. Provide about 1 inch of water per week, or water deeply when the soil surface dries, to encourage more blossoms. Avoid overwatering, as persistently wet conditions lead to root issues.
Fertilization is generally unnecessary and can be detrimental to flowering. Too much nitrogen promotes leafy growth over vibrant blooms. If soil is poor, a small amount of compost provides sufficient nutrients without over-enriching. Deadheading spent flowers encourages new blooms throughout the growing season.
Orchid Flame Nasturtiums are generally low-maintenance but can encounter pests like aphids. A strong water spray can dislodge pests, or insecticidal soap can be applied if problems persist. They can also act as “distraction” plants, drawing pests away from other garden vegetables. If plants become leggy or decline in mid-summer, a light trim stimulates new growth and extends blooming.
Harvesting and Uses
All parts of Orchid Flame Nasturtium are edible, offering a distinct peppery flavor. Vibrant flowers and tender leaves can be harvested at any stage for culinary use. They add a spicy, peppery zest to salads, sandwiches, and garnish various dishes. The flowers can also impart a sweet pepper flavor.
Young, unripe seed pods can be picked and pickled, serving as a substitute for capers due to their similar texture and tangy taste. To harvest seeds for future planting, allow them to mature and fall to the ground, then collect and store them in a cool, dry place.
Beyond culinary uses, Orchid Flame Nasturtiums are versatile ornamental plants. Their mounding habit suits them for containers, hanging baskets, and neat mounds in vegetable gardens. Vining types can be trained on trellises for a cascading effect. They also attract beneficial pollinators like bees to the garden.