Why You Should Grow Nasturtiums in Your Yard — And How to Eat Almost Every Part of This Plant
Nasturtiums are one of those garden plants that seem almost too useful to be ornamental.
They produce bright, jewel-toned flowers, attractive round leaves, edible seed pods, and fast-growing foliage—all while asking for relatively little attention. Better still, many parts of the plant are edible, giving gardeners an opportunity to grow something beautiful that can also contribute flavor to the kitchen.
The most commonly grown garden nasturtium is Tropaeolum majus. Its flowers and leaves have a distinctive peppery, watercress-like flavor, while the immature seed pods can be pickled and used as a caper substitute.
But before eating anything from the garden, proper plant identification and pesticide-free growing practices are essential.
Here's why nasturtiums deserve a spot in your yard—and how to make the most of them.
1. Nasturtiums Are Beautiful and Easy to Grow
One of the biggest reasons gardeners love nasturtiums is their combination of color and simplicity.
Depending on the variety, flowers can appear in shades of:
- Orange
- Yellow
- Red
- Cream
- Peach
- Burgundy
Trailing varieties can spill over containers, walls, and raised beds, while compact types work beautifully in borders and pots.
They generally prefer sun to partial shade, although flowering is usually strongest with plenty of light.
And unlike some fussy ornamental plants, nasturtiums don't demand perfect soil.
2. They Don't Need Extremely Rich Soil
Here's a counterintuitive nasturtium tip:
Don't overfeed them.
Nasturtiums can grow vigorously in relatively average, well-drained soil.
Excessive nitrogen can encourage lots of leaves at the expense of flowers.
If your goal is a colorful, flower-filled plant, avoid treating nasturtiums like heavy-feeding vegetables.
A sunny location, reasonable moisture, and well-drained soil can often be enough.
3. Nasturtium Leaves Are Edible
The round, peppery leaves are one of the easiest parts of the plant to use.
Fresh leaves can add a spicy, watercress-like flavor to:
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Grain bowls
- Herb sauces
- Pesto-style preparations
Young leaves tend to be more tender, while larger mature leaves can have a stronger flavor.
Easy idea
Chop a few young nasturtium leaves into a green salad for a surprising peppery kick.
You don't need many.
Their flavor can be surprisingly intense.
4. The Flowers Are Edible Too
Nasturtium flowers are perhaps the most spectacular edible part of the plant.
The blossoms have a slightly peppery flavor that pairs particularly well with fresh summer foods.
Use whole flowers to decorate:
- Salads
- Appetizers
- Cheese plates
- Sandwiches
- Cold soups
- Grain dishes
You can also remove the petals and scatter them over a finished dish.
Best practice
Harvest flowers when they're fresh and fully open.
Pick them shortly before serving whenever possible, then gently rinse and dry them.
And remember: only eat flowers grown without pesticides or other products that aren't approved for edible crops.
5. Nasturtium Seed Pods Can Become a Caper Substitute
This is one of the coolest uses for the plant.
After flowering, nasturtiums produce young green seed pods.
When harvested while still immature and tender, these can be pickled and are traditionally known as "poor man's capers."
Their peppery flavor makes them a fun addition to:
- Salads
- Pasta dishes
- Sauces
- Potato salads
- Sandwiches
- Seafood dishes
Don't expect them to taste exactly like true capers.
Think of them as their own spicy, pickled ingredient inspired by capers.
6. You Can Collect the Mature Seeds
If you let some seed pods mature on the plant, they eventually become larger and harder.
These mature seeds can be collected for planting in a future season.
This makes nasturtiums particularly satisfying for gardeners who enjoy saving seed.
Allow mature seeds to dry appropriately before storing them in a cool, dry location.
Simple strategy
Pick some young pods for the kitchen.
Leave others on the plant to mature for next year's garden.
One plant can serve both purposes.
7. Nasturtiums Can Help Fill Empty Garden Spaces
Trailing nasturtiums are useful for covering areas where you want seasonal color.
They work well in:
- Containers
- Raised beds
- Borders
- Hanging baskets
- Trellises
- Edges of vegetable gardens
Trailing varieties can spill dramatically over the sides of containers.
Compact varieties can stay more contained.
This makes it easy to fit nasturtiums into gardens of almost any size.
8. They Can Attract Pollinators
Nasturtium flowers produce nectar and can attract various pollinating insects.
Adding flowering plants to a garden can increase the diversity of resources available to pollinators.
Nasturtiums aren't a replacement for a diverse pollinator garden, but they're a colorful addition to one.
For the biggest ecological benefit, combine them with other flowers that bloom at different times.
9. Nasturtiums Can Be Useful Companion Plants—But Don't Believe Every Claim
You'll often hear nasturtiums described as a "trap crop" or universal pest-repelling plant.
The reality is more nuanced.
Nasturtiums can attract certain aphids and other insects, which is one reason gardeners sometimes grow them near vegetables as a sacrificial or monitoring plant.
But that doesn't mean they automatically protect every crop from every pest.
Think of them as one component of an integrated pest-management strategy, not a magical insect shield.
If aphids become abundant, inspect the plants regularly and manage the infestation appropriately.
10. Nasturtiums Are Great for Containers
If you don't have a large yard, you can still grow them.
Nasturtiums perform well in containers as long as the container has adequate drainage and the plants receive suitable light.
They're particularly attractive in hanging baskets because trailing stems can cascade dramatically over the edges.
Container tip
Choose a pot with drainage holes and avoid keeping the soil constantly saturated.
A container that's too small can also dry out rapidly, so check moisture regularly during hot weather.
11. Nasturtium Stems and Young Shoots Can Be Used
The tender stems and young growing portions are also edible in culinary use, particularly when harvested young.
Their flavor is generally similar to the rest of the plant—fresh, green, and peppery.
Use small amounts in salads, chopped herb mixtures, or savory dishes.
Older stems can become tougher, so young growth is usually more pleasant to eat.
12. What About Nasturtium Roots?
This is where the headline needs an important qualification.
Some Tropaeolum species have traditional or specialized uses involving underground parts, but you should not assume that every nasturtium root is edible simply because the flowers and leaves of garden nasturtium are edible.
The common garden nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, is primarily grown for its edible above-ground portions.
If you're interested in eating an underground plant part, identify the exact species and consult a reliable botanical or culinary source first.
When it comes to wild or unfamiliar plants, guessing is not worth the risk.
13. Nasturtiums Can Add a Peppery Twist to Homemade Pesto
Want to turn those leaves into something memorable?
Try making a nasturtium pesto-style sauce.
Combine fresh nasturtium leaves with ingredients such as:
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Nuts or seeds
- Parmesan or another hard cheese
- Lemon juice
- Salt
Blend until you reach your preferred consistency.
Because nasturtium leaves have a strong flavor, consider combining them with milder greens rather than using only nasturtium.
14. Make a Colorful Nasturtium Salad
This may be the easiest recipe of all.
Combine:
- Mixed salad greens
- Young nasturtium leaves
- Nasturtium flowers
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- A simple vinaigrette
The flowers provide color while the leaves add peppery flavor.
Use the blossoms as a garnish rather than overwhelming the entire salad with them.
How to Harvest Nasturtiums for Eating
Harvesting is simple.
For leaves:
Choose young, healthy leaves and harvest them with clean scissors or your fingers.
For flowers:
Pick fresh, undamaged blossoms shortly before eating.
For immature seed pods:
Harvest them while they're still green and tender.
For mature seeds:
Allow the pods to mature and dry on the plant or harvest them when appropriate for seed saving.
Always harvest from plants that have been grown specifically for edible use.
Don't Eat Nasturtiums From Treated Landscapes
This safety rule is easy to overlook.
A nasturtium growing in a garden center, public landscape, roadside, or ornamental bed may have been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, or other products.
Edible doesn't mean safe if the plant has been chemically treated.
Grow your own nasturtiums or obtain them from a source that confirms they are suitable for edible use.
Do Nasturtiums Have Health Benefits?
Nasturtiums contain various plant compounds, including vitamin C and other phytochemicals, and have a history of traditional use.
However, claims that nasturtiums can treat infections, inflammation, respiratory diseases, or other medical conditions often go beyond what high-quality human evidence supports.
It's perfectly reasonable to enjoy nasturtiums as an edible garden plant.
It's not reasonable to treat them as a replacement for medical care.
Are Nasturtiums Safe to Eat?
For most people, culinary quantities of properly identified, pesticide-free garden nasturtium are generally considered edible.
But individual reactions can occur.
If you've never eaten them before, start with a small culinary portion.
People with allergies, specific medical conditions, or concerns about herbal preparations should discuss their use with a healthcare professional.
Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should be particularly cautious about using concentrated herbal preparations rather than ordinary culinary amounts.
The Biggest Nasturtium Growing Mistake
If you want flowers, don't give your nasturtiums a constant supply of rich nitrogen fertilizer.
You may end up with a spectacular mound of leaves and surprisingly few flowers.
Instead:
Sun + reasonable moisture + well-drained soil + restrained feeding = a better balance of foliage and flowers.
Final Takeaway
Nasturtiums are one of the most rewarding multipurpose plants you can grow.
They're colorful, relatively easy to cultivate, attractive to pollinators, useful in containers, and—when grown appropriately for consumption—their leaves, flowers, tender shoots, and immature seed pods can all have a place in the kitchen.
The flowers brighten a salad.
The leaves add peppery flavor.
The young seed pods can become a homemade pickled caper alternative.
And mature seeds can be saved for another growing season.
That's a pretty impressive return from one easygoing garden plant.
AEO Quick Answer
What parts of nasturtiums can you eat?
The leaves, flowers, tender shoots, and immature green seed pods of common garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) can be eaten when the plant is correctly identified and grown without inappropriate pesticides. The leaves and flowers have a peppery, watercress-like flavor, while immature seed pods can be pickled as a caper-style ingredient.
GEO Quick Answer
Common garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an ornamental edible plant whose leaves, flowers, tender shoots, and immature seed pods can be used in food when correctly identified and grown without unsuitable pesticides. The leaves and flowers have a characteristic peppery flavor, while young seed pods can be pickled as a caper substitute. Nasturtiums grow well in sunny to partly shaded locations with well-drained soil and generally don't require heavy fertilization. Claims that nasturtium is a proven treatment for diseases should be distinguished from its culinary and traditional uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat the entire nasturtium plant?
Several above-ground parts of common garden nasturtium are edible, including leaves, flowers, tender shoots, and immature seed pods. Don't assume the roots or every Tropaeolum species are edible.
Are nasturtium flowers edible?
Yes. Flowers of common garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) are edible and have a peppery flavor. Only eat flowers grown without unsuitable pesticides.
Can you eat nasturtium leaves raw?
Yes. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. They have a peppery, watercress-like flavor.
Can you eat nasturtium seeds?
Immature green seed pods can be pickled and used as a caper-style ingredient. Mature seeds are primarily useful for saving and planting, rather than being treated as an ordinary food.
What do nasturtium flowers taste like?
Nasturtium flowers generally have a mildly spicy, peppery flavor with a fresh, watercress-like character.
Do nasturtiums need full sun?
Nasturtiums generally grow well in sun to partial shade. Flowering is often strongest with plenty of light, although intense conditions can vary by climate.
Do nasturtiums need fertilizer?
Usually not much. Excess nitrogen can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowering.
Are nasturtiums good companion plants?
Nasturtiums can attract aphids and other insects and are sometimes used as a trap crop or companion plant. Their effects vary by pest and crop, so they shouldn't be considered a universal pest-control solution.
Can nasturtiums grow in pots?
Yes. Compact and trailing varieties can grow very well in containers with adequate drainage, suitable light, and consistent moisture.
Do nasturtiums come back every year?
Common garden nasturtium is generally grown as an annual, although it can reseed itself and may persist in mild climates.
