FlowerNasturtium
Empress of India Nasturtium
Trailing Nasturtium
Empress of India is a Victorian-era heirloom nasturtium with strikingly dark purple-green foliage and brilliant scarlet flowers that bloom reliably from summer through fall. This compact bush variety reaches just 10, 18 inches tall and wide, making it ideal for bedding, containers, or disguising fading spring bulbs. From seed to first bloom takes 55, 65 days, and the edible flowers and peppery leaves are as beautiful on a salad as they are in the garden. Gardeners love it for its deer resistance, pollinator appeal, and the fact that it actively discourages aphids while asking almost nothing in return.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/nasturtium-seeds-empress-of-india-organic)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Moderately Fertile (Tolerates Poor Soil)
Preferred Temp65-75°F
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
18 in
Width
PeriodAnnual
TypeTrailing Or Bush-forming
Spacing
12 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
18in H x 18in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The real story here is the contrast: those moody, dark foliage tones make the long-spurred, dazzling scarlet blooms practically glow. Unlike many nasturtiums that sprawl or need constant fussing, this mounding type stays tidy and compact, reliably filling garden beds or pots without taking over. The flowers and leaves are genuinely delicious, peppery, colorful, and ready to harvest at your whim, which means you're growing something that feeds both eyes and plate. Add in the fact that it's tough enough to shrug off deer and pests while still drawing hummingbirds and beneficial insects, and you've got a variety that earns its space in any garden.
Common Uses
The edible flowers and leaves make this variety as much a culinary plant as an ornamental one. The scarlet, long-spurred blooms look striking as fresh garnishes on composed salads or mixed into tender greens, bringing both peppery flavor and vivid color. The dark, lobed leaves work beautifully in salads and sandwiches, offering a sharp, slightly spicy taste. Many gardeners also grow it purely for its bedding presence, the mounding form and continuous bloom make it excellent for filling gaps in borders, softening container arrangements, or creating a living groundcover.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors in individual 4-inch pots of well-drained seed starting mix 2–4 weeks before your last expected frost date, sowing 2 seeds per pot and covering them 1 inch deep. Nasturtium seeds require darkness to germinate, so cover the seed tray or keep seeds in darkness; maintain temperatures around 65°F. Once seedlings develop several sets of leaves, pinch out the weaker seedling in each pot, leaving one strong plant per pot. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge. Begin hardening off seedlings after your region's nighttime temperatures climb above 50°F, gradually acclimating them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days before transplanting.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings into the garden once nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F and soil has warmed. Space plants 10 inches apart in a location with full sun and well-drained soil. Handle seedlings gently to avoid damaging the delicate root system. Water gently after transplanting and keep soil consistently moist for the first week or two until plants are established.
Direct Sow
Direct sowing is recommended and often easier than starting indoors. Sow seeds 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep directly into the garden after the last frost date, once soil temperature is at least 50°F. Space seeds or thin seedlings to 10 inches apart. Seeds will germinate in 7–14 days under warm conditions. Water gently and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings are established.
Harvesting
Harvest edible flowers when they are fully open and at their most vibrant, morning is the best time, when they've just opened and are at their freshest. Simply pinch or cut individual blooms just above the calyx. Leaves can be harvested at any time once the plant is established, picking from the top of stems to encourage branching. For the longest enjoyment, harvest regularly; removing flowers and leaves actually stimulates the plant to produce more.
Pruning
No formal pruning is necessary for this mounding cultivar, as it naturally maintains a compact, bushy shape. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage continuous blooming throughout summer and fall, simply pinch off faded blooms just below the flower head. If plants become leggy or overgrown later in the season, you can cut them back by up to one-third their height to rejuvenate growth and promote a fresh flush of blooms.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantAttracts Pollinators
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Bloom Time
Summer To Fall
Scientific Classification
Tropaeolum L.
Family
Tropaeolaceae
Genus
Tropaeolum
History & Origin
“Empress of India traces back to the Victorian era, when ornamental nasturtiums were treasured as edible flowers in fashionable gardens across Europe and North America. This heirloom has endured through generations of gardeners who saved seed and passed plants along, valuing both its jewel-tone appearance and culinary promise. The variety has been preserved and grown continuously by seed companies and home gardeners for over a century, cementing its status as a reliable, time-tested cultivar that bridges the practical and the beautiful.”