Tropaeolum tricolor

Tropaeolum tricolor is a beautiful climbing perennial nasturtium, forming a cloud of small blood-red flowers, with a yellow heart and surrounded by a violet ring in spring. This curious nasturtium is perennial but semi-hardy.

Originally from South America, the tricolor nasturtium forms long twining stems, with tender green palmate foliage composed of 5 elongated leaflets.

When grown in a pot or a very mild climate, flowering can begin as early as March. In colder climates, flowering is delayed and begins from June-July. The tubular flowers are blood-red with a yellow heart surrounded by a violet ring.

The tricolor nasturtium is a semi-hardy plant, it dislikes frost and especially winter humidity. In open ground, plant it in partial shade, at the base of a conifer for example or in rocky soil, between rocks but in a cool and humus-rich soil. It grows very well in a pot, in a rich and light substrate, and must be brought indoors in winter to a frost-free location.

It is perfect for covering a fence or as ground cover.