# Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/nasturtium · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/nasturtium)

Nasturtium · كبوسين  
flower · exotic · family Tropaeolaceae · grows 0.3–2.5 m tall, 0.6–2 m wide · fast growth  
full sun · low water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 2 · drought 3 · shade 2 · ease of care 5  
Sow or plant: Oct–Jan  
Uses: bedding, container, groundcover, edible  
Garden styles: manicured

## Also known as

- **English:** Garden nasturtium, Indian cress, Greater Indian cress, Monk's cress, Nose-twister
- **Arabic (العربية):** كبوسين, أبو خنجر (abu khanjar), طرطور الباشا (tartur al-basha)
- **Persian (فارسی):** گل لادن (gol-e ladan)

A fast, edible winter flower: sow seed from October to January in poor soil and full sun, harvest peppery leaves and blooms, and let it go when the heat arrives. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic.

## About

Meet the nasturtium, the flower you can put in a salad. Round, shield-shaped leaves carry bright yellow, orange and red blooms, and UF/IFAS says the leaves, pods and flowers are all edible, with a flavour likened to watercress. The seed pods can be pickled like capers.

It is one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed, which suits Dubai's sandy, poor soil: NC State says it grows best in poor to average, well-drained soil in full sun, tolerates drought and neglect, and flowers less if it is fed too well.

In a Dubai vegetable bed it earns a second job. The National suggests growing nasturtiums as 'sacrificial' plants in the same bed, since aphids favour them and are drawn away from your vegetables.

Tropaeolum majus is an annual or short-lived perennial of cultivated, probably hybrid, origin (Wikipedia). UF/IFAS describes a vining annual with round, smooth leaves and numerous yellow, orange or red flowers; trailing forms suit hanging baskets or low trellises, while dwarf forms stand on their own. NC State says dwarf bushy types are about 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 2 feet (60 cm) wide, while climbing types can reach 10 feet (3 m). It is not closely related to the true watercress genus Nasturtium, despite the name.

In Dubai, no source we found gives a sowing date. Gulf News in 2006 listed nasturtium among the annuals that can endure hot and dry conditions, NC State calls it a warm-weather annual that wants some afternoon shade in hot summers, and UF/IFAS says to sow from spring through fall in Florida and all year in South Florida, where winters are mild. Dubai's cool season, October to February, is the equivalent window, and flowers and leaves can be picked through the cooler months until April's heat. UF/IFAS says pods develop about four months after seeding.

The care is mostly about not caring. NC State and RHS both say poor soil is best, because rich soil makes foliage at the expense of flowers, and NC State says it is tolerant of drought and neglect. Dubai's sand suits it, so skip heavy compost and fertiliser, give it full sun, and water when the soil dries. Stake or trellis the tall types, as UF/IFAS advises. Watch for aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies (NC State) and, because the leaves are eaten, avoid spraying (UF/IFAS).

## Through the year

The Dubai nasturtium year is a cool-season sprint. Seed goes in from October to January, directly where it will grow, in a sunny spot with poor, free-draining soil. Plants race away through the cool months, when mean highs are 24–31 °C, and flowers and young leaves can be picked for salads; UF/IFAS says seed pods develop about four months after sowing. NC State notes that it wants some afternoon shade in hot summers, and as April's mean maximum reaches 33.7 °C and May's 38.2 °C, the plants are pulled and replaced with heat-tolerant bedding such as [Portulaca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md).

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Jan | Sow: Cool-season sowing window | No Dubai source gives a date. Gulf News lists nasturtium among annuals for hot, dry conditions; UF/IFAS says to sow year-round in South Florida. We use Dubai's cool season. |
| Dec–Apr | Flowers: Flowers through the cool months | Deadheading prolongs flowering (RHS). |
| Dec–Apr | Harvest: Pick leaves and flowers; pods later | Leaves, buds, flowers, pods and seeds are edible (NC State). Pods develop about four months after seeding (UF/IFAS). |
| Dec–Feb | Pest watch: Aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies | Aphids favour nasturtium (The National); NC State lists aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies. Cool weather brings out aphids (Acacia). |
| Apr–Jun | Heat stress: Fades in the heat | NC State: wants some afternoon shade in hot summers. April's mean maximum in Dubai is 33.7 °C. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown outdoors through summer; pull it in April or May.
- **Watering in winter:** Water when the top of the soil has dried. NC State says it is tolerant of drought and neglect.
- **While establishing:** Keep the seed bed moist until seedlings appear, then water when the surface dries.
- **Soil:** Poor to average, well-drained soil in full sun (NC State). Dubai's sand suits it; do not enrich it heavily, because rich soil gives leaves at the expense of flowers (RHS).
- **Feeding:** Little or none. NC State says fertilising increases foliage but decreases flowering.
- **Pruning:** Deadhead to prolong flowering (RHS). Stake or trellis tall types (UF/IFAS) and trim trailing stems that outgrow their space.
- **Planting:** Sow seed directly in the ground from October to January, in full sun, thinning to give each plant room to trail. Dwarf types suit pots and edging; climbing types need a trellis.
- **Pests and problems:** Aphids; Mealybugs; Whiteflies
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA lists nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses and notes there are no records of toxic ingestion; NC State's Plant Toolbox, however, tags it as a possible problem for dogs, cats and horses, so do not feed it to pets in quantity. The leaves, buds, flowers, pods and seeds are edible for people (NC State, UF/IFAS), but RHS lists the plant as a skin allergen, so wear gloves, and only eat plants that have not been sprayed.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Leaves, flowers and seed pods are edible and peppery (UF/IFAS, NC State)
- Thrives in poor soil and tolerates drought and neglect (NC State)
- Easy from seed, with trailing, climbing and dwarf forms
- Works as a sacrificial plant that draws aphids from vegetables (The National)
- Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

**Cons**
- No Dubai source gives a sowing window, and it fades with Dubai's spring heat
- Too much feed or rich soil gives leaves instead of flowers (NC State, RHS)
- Aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies find it (NC State)
- A skin allergen: RHS advises gloves when handling it

## Common mistakes

- Feeding and composting it heavily. NC State says fertilising increases foliage and decreases flowering, and RHS says rich soil makes leaves at the expense of flowers.
- Spraying a plant you plan to eat. UF/IFAS advises avoiding pesticides on or near nasturtiums if you will eat them.
- Letting aphids build up without noticing. They favour nasturtium, so check the stems and leaf undersides weekly.
- Handling it without gloves if you have sensitive skin. RHS lists it as a skin allergen.
- Expecting it to last all summer. It wants afternoon shade in hot summers (NC State), and Dubai's heat ends the season by April or May.

## Good to know

- NC State says the leaves, buds, flowers, pods and seeds are all edible with a spicy, peppery taste, and the buds contain mustard oil.
- UF/IFAS says the leaves taste something like watercress and the seed pods can be pickled and used like capers.
- Nasturtium is not closely related to the watercress genus Nasturtium, despite the name (Wikipedia).
- The ASPCA gives 'Nose-Twister' and 'Nose-Tweaker' as other names, and Arabic Wikipedia gives أبو خنجر and طرطور الباشا alongside كبوسين.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Edible flower, Trailing groundcover, Basket and pot spiller, Sacrificial plant for vegetable beds

Grow nasturtium where you can reach the leaves and flowers: in a pot by the kitchen door, tumbling over the edge of a raised vegetable bed or up a low trellis. UF/IFAS suggests trailing forms for hanging baskets or low trellises and dwarf forms freestanding. Give it full sun and poor soil, and plant it in the same bed as vegetables if you want it to take the aphids, as The National suggests. Avoid spraying anywhere you will eat from.

- [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md): A nasturtium beside the lettuce bed acts as a sacrificial plant that draws aphids away, and both are grown in Dubai's cool season.
- [Calendula](https://plantguide.ae/plants/calendula.md): Another edible flower with the same cool-season window, in orange and yellow to match the nasturtium's blooms.
- [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md): Marigold's compact orange pompoms sit in front of nasturtium's trailing stems in the same sunny bed.

## FAQ

**When should I sow nasturtium in Dubai?**  
No Dubai source gives a date. UF/IFAS says to sow year-round in South Florida, where winters are mild, so Dubai's cool season, October to January, is a sensible window. Sow seed directly in the ground in full sun.

**Can I eat nasturtium flowers and leaves?**  
Yes. NC State says the leaves, buds, flowers, pods and seeds are edible with a spicy, peppery taste, and UF/IFAS compares the leaves to watercress. Avoid spraying, and wear gloves if you have sensitive skin, since RHS lists it as a skin allergen.

**Why does my nasturtium have lots of leaves but few flowers?**  
The soil is probably too rich or it has been over-fed. NC State says fertilising increases foliage and decreases flowering, and RHS says rich soil makes leaves at the expense of flowers.

**Are nasturtiums safe for pets?**  
The ASPCA lists them as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses with no records of toxic ingestion, but NC State tags them as a possible problem for pets. Keep pets from eating large amounts.

**Why are there so many aphids on my nasturtium?**  
Aphids favour it, which is why The National suggests growing it as a sacrificial plant that draws them away from vegetables. Remove badly infested stems rather than spraying a plant you plan to eat.

## Related plants

[Calendula](https://plantguide.ae/plants/calendula.md) · [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md) · [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md) · [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md)

## Photos

![Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) with yellow and red-marked flowers among round, shield-shaped leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Yellow_and_red_Tropaeolum_majus_%28Garden_nasturtium%29.jpg)  
Photo: Mary Hutchison / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellow_and_red_Tropaeolum_majus_(Garden_nasturtium).jpg))

![A garden nasturtium plant (Tropaeolum majus) covered in orange flowers and round leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Tropaeolum_majus_%27Nasturtium%27_%28Trolaeolaceae%29_plant.JPG)  
Photo: Magnus Manske / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tropaeolum_majus_'Nasturtium'_(Trolaeolaceae)_plant.JPG))

![Trailing garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) with small orange-red flowers across the ground](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Garden_Nasturtium_-_Tropaeolum_majus_%2828881698648%29.jpg)  
Photo: Björn S. / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garden_Nasturtium_-_Tropaeolum_majus_(28881698648).jpg))

## Sources

- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Nasturtiums](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/nasturtium/)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Tropaeolum majus](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tropaeolum-majus/)
- [RHS: Tropaeolum majus](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/85362/tropaeolum-majus/details)
- [ASPCA: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/nasturtium)
- [Gulf News: Where to plant what (nasturtium among annuals for hot and dry conditions, 2006)](https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/lifestyle%2Fhome%2Fwhere-to-plant-what-1.266904)
- [The National: A guide to growing your own vegetables in the UAE (nasturtiums as sacrificial plants for aphids)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/home/a-guide-to-growing-your-own-vegetables-in-the-uae-1.825861)
- [Acacia Garden Center: Dubai Garden Calendar](https://acaciagardencenter.com/blogs/blog/dubai-planting-calendar)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991–2020 normals, Dubai International Airport)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Tropaeolum majus L.](https://www.gbif.org/species/207848163)
- [Wikipedia: Tropaeolum majus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum_majus)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: كبوسين كبير](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86_%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1)
- [Persian Wikipedia: گل لادن](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%AF%D9%84_%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%86)