Whirly Bird Rose is a compact nasturtium that brings vibrant rose-colored double petals and a sweetly scented fragrance to gardens, containers, and edible landscapes. These cheerful blooms deliver the sharp, spicy flavor characteristic of nasturtiums, making them as delicious as they are beautiful. The plants reach just 14 to 16 inches tall with a neat mounding habit, flowering in 35 to 55 days from sowing. Thriving in full sun and requiring minimal fuss, this heirloom cultivar transforms vegetable beds, window boxes, and salad bowls with a striking pop of color.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
16in H x ?in W
—
High
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The double petals and rosy tones of Whirly Bird Rose set it apart from single-flowered nasturtium varieties, creating a more ornamental presence in the garden. Its compact mounding growth and modest height make it exceptionally well-suited to containers, borders, and window boxes where taller varieties might overwhelm the space. The combination of edible flowers with genuine spicy flavor and sweet fragrance means you're growing something that's as rewarding to eat as it is to look at.
Whirly Bird Rose flowers are edible and prized for adding both visual drama and peppery flavor to fresh salads and culinary garnishes. The blooms brighten vegetable gardens while contributing their distinctive sharp taste to the kitchen. These nasturtiums serve double duty as ornamental specimens in flower beds and borders while remaining productive in the edible landscape.
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Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost in temperatures between 55 and 65°F. Nasturtium seeds have hard seed coats; soak them for a few hours before planting to improve germination. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged during germination.
Transplant seedlings to the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 55°F. Space plants 8 inches apart. Handle seedlings carefully, as nasturtiums can be sensitive to root disturbance.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost once soil temperatures reach at least 55°F. Plant seeds at the depth specified below and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Harvest flowers in the morning after dew has dried but before the heat of the day for peak fragrance and crispness. Snip individual blooms or clusters as needed for fresh use in salads and garnishes. The flowers are ready to harvest as soon as they open fully and show their characteristic rosy tones with double petals. Pick them when the petals are turgid and the blooms are at their prime for best flavor and appearance.
Pinch back the growing tips of young plants early in the season to encourage bushier, more compact growth and denser flowering. As plants mature into their natural mounding habit, minimal pruning is needed. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming throughout the growing season.
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