Alaska Gold Dwarf Nasturtium Heirloom Seeds

Alaska Gold Dwarf Nasturtium Seeds — Heirloom | Deep Yellow Blooms, Variegated Foliage, Compact Ground Cover, Fully Edible

Tropaeolum majus nanum — Alaska Gold is the nasturtium that earns its place twice over — first for its foliage, then for its flowers. The variegated green-and-cream leaves are ornamental in their own right, and the deep yellow blooms that play across them create a striking gold-on-green contrast that lights up borders, containers, and children’s gardens. Compact dwarf habit at 12–18 inches — an excellent low-maintenance annual ground cover. Every part is edible: flowers, leaves, and seeds. A prolific nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

The Variegated Nasturtium

Most nasturtiums have solid green foliage. Alaska Gold’s distinctive variegated leaves — green splashed and marbled with cream and white — make it ornamentally valuable even before the first bloom opens. The deep yellow flowers against the variegated foliage create a layered visual effect that standard nasturtiums cannot match. An ideal choice for children’s gardens, edible landscapes, and pollinator plantings where both foliage and flower interest are valued.

Why Grow Alaska Gold?

• Variegated foliage — green marbled with cream and white; ornamentally valuable before and after bloom
• Deep yellow blooms — vivid gold flowers that contrast dramatically against the variegated leaves
• Compact dwarf habit — 12–18 inches; excellent as a ground cover, border edging, or container plant
• Fully edible — flowers, leaves, and seeds are all edible; peppery, watercress-like flavor
• Pollinator magnet — prolific nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
• Children’s garden favorite — fast-growing, colorful, edible, and easy; ideal for introducing children to gardening
• Easy annual — direct sow 2 weeks before last frost; thrives in poor soil with minimal care

In the Kitchen

• Edible flowers: Toss whole blooms into salads for color and peppery bite; use as a garnish for soups, grain bowls, and cheese boards
• Stuffed flowers: Fill with soft cheese or herbed cream cheese for an elegant appetizer
• Leaves: Use young leaves in salads, wraps, and sandwiches; mince into compound butters and herb oils
• Pickled seeds: Pickle unripe seeds in brine as a caper substitute
• Dessert garnish: Crystallize flowers with egg white and sugar for cake and pastry decoration

Growing Notes

• Type: Tender perennial; grown as annual in frost regions
• Sowing: Direct sow 2 weeks before last frost, or start indoors 3 weeks before last frost and transplant after frost danger has passed
• Germination temperature: 55°F and above
• Light: Full sun to part shade; part shade in hot climates extends bloom season
• Soil: Well-drained, somewhat nutrient-poor soil favors flower production over foliage; avoid rich amended beds
• Watering: Dry to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• Blooming period: Spring through summer

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden's success.