Blue Nasturtium (Tropaeolum azureum)

Blue Nasturtium
Tropaeolum azureum

This is the plants' third year grown from seeds and they are absolutely GORGEOUS

What a spectacular colour! I've never heard of a Blue Nasturtium! Are they fragrant? Can the leaves and flowers be added to salads? I notice the leaves are rather fine - a bit different from the normal nasturtiums! Are you in a warm area of Chile? How long do they flower? Do they seed well? (I suppose they must as its the 3rd year for you...). So many questions Ursula! Thanks for posting the pic. Glorious!

Yes, I am delighted to learn of such a plant as well. I wonder if they could grow here.

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Bedouin & Pajaritomt.

As far as I know, none of the Chilean native Tropaeolum species are fragrant. However, they have a great characteristic: they are perennials (see the picture of the potato-like tubers).

T. azureum, T. tricolor, T. brachyceras, T. hookerianum, T. lepidum and some others, have much smaller flowers and leaves than the popular Ecuadorian Nasturtium. The size of T. azureum's flowers is of approx 1" or slightly more. However, this does not matter considering how spectacularly beautiful these species are.

The area where I live is an equivalent to a USA zone 9b and T. azureum proceeds from a slightly colder area.

Unfortunately, my garden are two large balconies in the middle of the big city and I do not have the proper pollinators for T. azureum. In fact my only Trops. that produced a few seeds this year are T. brachyceras and T. lepidum.

Since the other Trop. flowers are edible, I see no reason why these would not be. However, I would not cut my flowers even if I had a very important guest for dinner ;o).

Pajarito, these Trops. are grown in Europe as house-plants.

My personal experience says that they MUST be sown in autumn, will germinate in winter and bloom from the second year on (sometimes they bear one or two flowers the first year). Unlike many other plants, Trops. demand this cycle and do not as well under artificial conditions (cold treatment, etc.). They really need the transition from autumn to winter-cold to germinate. In your area this could be achieved in a cold greenhouse or in an unheated room with enough light.

Another important observation I have made is that in their natural environment they hardly get water from mid-spring to early autumn. But in nature they grow in the soil and bury their tubers very, very deep. Since we grow them in pots, I place mine in a sheltered spot and give them just a tiny bit of water every forthnight. These Trops do not like to be disturbed, so you do much better if you sow them straight in a big and deep pot and placing whatever kind of trellis you will use BEFORE distributing the seeds or tubers. I have decided to keep mine in the pots they are until I move out of town and find the proper place to plant the in the soil.

Another important fact: in the wild they grow under shrubs. This is, like Clematis, their tuber/roots are in the shade and the foliage grows in search of sun. I have lost many seedlings because they were exposed to too much sun.

Bedouin, on the T. brachyceras data page I posted a picture of a new plant with my hand in the back for reference. There you will see how delicate the leaves look.

Please feel free to ask any further questions you might have.

Hugs,

Ursula

Thanks for the growing info, Ursula. Betty

My pleasure, Betty.