Tropaeolum majus 'Red Wonder'

The large 'Red Wonder' double Nasturtium is an uncommon selection of Tropaeolum majus that stands out with its beautiful more or less double flowers in a vibrant red. It is an annual climbing plant, with pretty rounded leaves, that blooms continuously from May until the first frost. This vigorous nasturtium also makes a remarkable seasonal ground cover, especially on a large slope.

Tropaeolum majus is an annual climbing or creeping plant, native to South America, belonging to the Tropaeolaceae family. It has given rise to numerous varieties and forms, some of which are more or less compact, with single or double flowers. 'Red Wonder' is a vigorous hybrid: the plant produces 1.5 to 2m (5 to 7ft) long, well-branched stems in a single season. It forms a beautiful mound of foliage and blooms from May to October, producing numerous trumpet-shaped flowers that stand out from the foliage. Their petals are unequal, more or less numerous, with a vermilion colour and a touch of dark purple at the throat. In our climates, this plant is mainly pollinated by bumblebees. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing seeds slightly smaller than peas, easy to sow. The foliage consists of round leaves, about 4cm (2in) wide, peltate, with an elegant grey-green colour and almost white radiating veins. 

This 'Red Wonder' nasturtium makes a beautiful climbing plant, but it can also be used as a ground cover. It can be planted in early spring on slopes, at the top of walls where it will cascade down. You can also grow it in a pot or a large hanging basket, with purple or dark-leaved Ipomoeas or an Alternanthera 'Purple Knight' for example. Plant it in the vegetable garden and orchard, where it will help eliminate pests harmful to your other crops while bringing freshness and cheerfulness to its humble companions. Nasturtium finds its way into the kitchen, its leaves and flowers can be added raw to salads, sauces, and mayonnaise. They have a pungent and aromatic flavour reminiscent of watercress. The flower buds and young fruits are sometimes preserved in vinegar, providing a substitute for capers.

The common name "nasturtium" comes from the spur that its flowers have, resembling the hood of a Capuchin monk's habit. It is a medicinal and aromatic plant.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before being planted outdoors once the risk of frost has definitively passed.