Alaska Red Shades is a compact heirloom nasturtium that delivers serious visual drama with its brightly variegated, round leaves and velvety deep maroon blooms. This antioxidant-rich plant reaches maturity in just 50-60 days, thriving in full sun within hardiness zones 9-11. The flowers and foliage are edible and prized for salads, soups, and pesto, making it as functional as it is gorgeous. Unlike typical nasturtiums, the dark burgundy coloring gives this variety a somber, sophisticated presence that commands attention in any garden.
8
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The round-leafed foliage of Alaska Red Shades is strikingly variegated, creating a foundation that's nearly as ornamental as the velvety maroon flowers themselves. This heirloom nasturtium combines edible flowers and leaves with visual impact that feels almost theatrical in its depth of color. At just 50-60 days to harvest and compact in habit, it works beautifully in containers or garden beds without demanding much space.
This nasturtium is grown primarily for its edible flowers and variegated leaves, which add peppery notes and visual intrigue to fresh salads. The petals and foliage work beautifully in soups, where their color and slight spiciness elevate simple broths. Home gardeners also use the fresh leaves to create nasturtium pesto, blending them with garlic, nuts, and oil for a peppery spread that carries the plant's antioxidant qualities into a finished dish.
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Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch in warm soil and maintain temperatures around 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination. Seeds typically sprout within 7-14 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors only after frost danger has fully passed and soil has warmed.
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before planting out. Transplant after the last spring frost when soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 8-12 inches apart in full sun locations.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost date once soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch and space seeds 8-12 inches apart. Water gently and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.
Nasturtium flowers are ready to harvest once fully open and the petals have developed their deep maroon color and velvety texture. Pick flowers in the morning when they're crisp and fresh. Harvest leaves anytime throughout the growing season by pinching or cutting from the stems; younger, smaller leaves tend to be more tender and have a milder peppery flavor. Continue harvesting flowers and leaves throughout the season to encourage more blooms.
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“Alaska Red Shades carries the lineage of heirloom nasturtiums, varieties preserved and passed through generations of gardeners who valued both their ornamental drama and culinary potential. As an heirloom cultivar of Tropaeolum minus, it represents the kind of specialized plant that smaller seed companies like Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds actively seek out and maintain, ensuring these distinctive varieties survive in an era dominated by mass-market hybrids.”