focal · moderate · premium
Garden nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus · aka Indian cress
Nasturtium is the vining, edible flower of the garden-to-cake movement — peppery petals used in salads and on wedding cakes, round shield-leaves as textural interest, trailing stems that cascade over bouquet edges. Fragile and hyper-seasonal; buy from local farms during summer only.
At a glance
| Family | Tropaeolaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | South America; commercially grown by local farms |
| Peak season | June, July, August, September |
| Availability | May to October |
| Stem length | 20–60 cm |
| Vase life | 3–6 days |
| Colors | yellow, orange, red, burgundy, coral |
| Price tier | premium |
Conditioning
Cut in the early morning, plunge into cool water immediately. Vining stems bruise easily.
Care in the vase
- •Vining stem — perfect for cascade edges
- •Both flowers and leaves are edible (peppery — used in salads and cake work)
- •Short vase life — event-day only
- •Round shield-shaped leaves are as photogenic as flowers
