Dwarf Nasturtium
Cherry Rose Nasturtium is a stunning heirloom annual that transforms garden spaces into cascades of vibrant rosy-pink blooms atop low, spreading mounds of fresh green foliage. This dual-purpose beauty reaches just 12 inches tall while spreading 12, 16 inches wide, making it perfect for borders, containers, or ground cover displays. The flowers and leaves both carry a distinctive peppery bite, ready to harvest in about 80 days for salads and garnishes. Thriving in poor, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, Cherry Rose is remarkably resilient and low-maintenance, the kind of plant that rewards minimal fussing with maximum visual impact.
Full Sun
High
3-10
12in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
Moderate
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What makes Cherry Rose special is its combination of ornamental exuberance and culinary utility. The extraordinarily abundant rosy-pink blooms create a cheerful, resilient ground cover that's as edible as it is beautiful. This heirloom grows quickly in poor soil where fussier plants struggle, spreading a generous footprint while staying compact enough for containers. Both the flowers and peppery-tasting leaves offer immediate harvests for the kitchen, making it one of those rare plants that looks stunning while feeding you.
Cherry Rose nasturtium flowers and leaves work beautifully as edible garnishes for salads, soups, and other dishes where their peppery flavor adds vibrancy. The petals bring both visual appeal and a distinctive spicy note to vinegars and can brighten any plate that needs color and attitude. The young leaves are equally useful in the kitchen, offering that same peppery punch in fresh preparations.
Sow Cherry Rose nasturtium in early spring directly into the garden. Soak seeds overnight before sowing to improve germination. Sow in rows at your desired spacing, and while waiting for the first shoots to emerge, consider installing a trellis if you want to encourage upward growth, using string or 2x2 posts spaced every 10 feet.
Begin harvesting flowers and leaves once plants are well-established, typically around 80 days after sowing. Pick flowers at their peak of color for the strongest visual and flavor impact. Harvest leaves regularly to encourage continued growth and bloom production. Both flowers and leaves can be picked as needed throughout the growing season for immediate culinary use.
Cherry Rose has a naturally spreading, ground-cover growth habit that rarely requires pruning. If you choose to train plants onto a trellis, guide young growth up the support as tendrils emerge, and remove any stems that grow in unwanted directions. Otherwise, allow the mounding habit to develop naturally.
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“Cherry Rose Nasturtium is a recognized heirloom variety, part of the Tropaeolum majus species that originated in Central and South America but has been cultivated across temperate gardens for centuries. This particular cultivar represents the preservation efforts of seed savers and heirloom organizations dedicated to maintaining the genetic diversity and proven growing characteristics of open-pollinated plants. Its journey to modern gardeners reflects broader movements to restore heirloom varieties that perform reliably in home gardens while carrying the weight of generations of cultivation.”