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A Week Of Flowers: Nasturtium’s Top Ten

I’m joining Cathy of Words and Herbs, along with other gardeners around the globe, for day six of her winter garden meme. Cathy’s invited us to share flowers from this past year’s garden as an antidote to winter gloom.

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I live in USDA hardiness zone 9, which, to my non-gardening readers, means I can effectively garden for 10 months of the year. Frosts are rare.

Close-up of vibrant orange nasturtium flowers surrounded by green leaves.
Yellow nasturtium

It’s not all rosy. We have multi-year droughts, and even in a typical year, rainfall is minimal and seasonal. We might go five or six months without a drop.

I am NOT complaining, just commiserating with gardeners who must step away for a few months till the ground thaws.

Today I’m sharing my garden nasturtiums, and my top-ten reasons for planting them.

  1. They’re in my zone, growing well for months out of the year.
A vibrant garden scene featuring blooming orange and red nasturtium flowers alongside lush green leaves, interspersed with other plants and a few white flowers, creating a colorful and lively atmosphere.
nasturtiums in the garden

2. Nasturtiums self-seed. Plant once, and enjoy their reliable return to the garden.

3. These tender perennials play well with others. They’re happy to grow up between plants or across the patio, but somehow they’re not invasive.

A garden scene featuring a stone fountain surrounded by vibrant orange nasturtiums and blooming hydrangeas in shades of pink and blue, with a wooden bench and fence in the background.

4. They make a fun hiding place for our cat, Tessa.

A tortoiseshell cat observing a garden filled with large green nasturtium leaves and red flowers, with a wooden fence in the background.
Tessa amid the nasturtium and abutilon
A tortoiseshell cat standing among vibrant nasturtium flowers in a garden.

5. They flower twice a year.

Close-up of an orange nasturtium flower nestled among green leaves, showcasing its vibrant color and delicate petals.
orange nasturtium

7. Nasturtiums have beautiful leaves.

A clay sun face wall decoration with green nasturtium leaves and a bright orange flower growing in front of it against a wooden background.

6. The flowers and leaves are edible, cooked, and raw. They’re lovely as a side dressing on a salad or on top of a cake.

8. The rich yellows, oranges, and reds feel like sunshine.

9. When you enjoy crafting and gardening, nasturtiums make their way into your crafting room, where they leave a wonderful impression.

A textured background featuring watercolor illustrations of nasturtium leaves in various shades of green, with handwritten text 'Nasturtiums' in a light orange color.

10. Bees love nasturtiums, and gardeners rely on bees. We all win, and that’s the best reason of all.

Thanks for hosting this fun winter meme, Cathy.

21 thoughts on “A Week Of Flowers: Nasturtium’s Top Ten”

  1. Your Nasturtiums really are a great flower for your garden Alys. I would not have been able to think of ten reasons to grow them, but they are all so true. I especially like the fact that Tess uses them to hide! Thanks for this lovely tie-in to the meme. 😁

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