Tropaeolum Whirlybird Orange - Dwarf Nasturtium Seeds

The Whirlybird Orange Nasturtium is a particularly compact and colourful selection of Tropaeolum majus nanum, the dwarf nasturtium. This variety forms a lovely dense groundcover of round, bright green leaves that are adorned with beautiful orange flowers throughout the summer. It is very easy to grow and is ideal for bordering pathways or rockeries, perfect for creating flower pots or enhancing floral arrangements. Stunning with blue or white lobelias, for example.

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 remain dwarf and compact. This is the case with 'Whirlybird Orange', a recent small cultivar. The plant forms a small bushy clump that reaches 30 cm (12in) in height and 40-45 cm (16-18in) in width in a single season. It blooms from June to September, 60 to 70 days after sowing, producing numerous tubular flowers with 5 petals and a spur, measuring 5 cm (2in) in diameter. They display a beautiful colour blending yellow and orange. In our climates, it is primarily bumblebees that pollinate this plant. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing seeds slightly smaller than peas, which are easy to sow. The foliage consists of round, peltate leaves with radiating veins, a dark green with a hint of grey.

Plant Whirlybird Orange Nasturtium in borders, rockeries, flower pots, or hanging baskets. For example, you can combine it with white or blue forget-me-nots, lobelias, catmints, or cornflowers. Also, plant it in the vegetable garden and orchard, where it will help eliminate harmful insects to your other crops while bringing a lot of freshness and cheerfulness to its humble companions. Nasturtiums attract aphids, which are fond of them. However, do not deprive yourself of this pretty plant: it acts as a diversion (while hosting precious food for ladybird larvae) and thus protects your other plants. Nasturtiums make their way into the kitchen, and their 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 nasturtium gets its vernacular name from the spur that its flowers possess, resembling the hood of a friar's habit. It is a medicinal and aromatic plant.