Empress of India Nasturtium Heirloom Seeds

Empress of India Nasturtium Seeds — Heirloom | Scarlet Blooms, Dark Foliage, Fully Edible, Companion Plant

Tropaeolum majus — Empress of India is one of the most striking nasturtium varieties available — vivid scarlet blooms up to 2½ inches across set against unusually dark, blue-green foliage that makes the flowers pop with dramatic contrast. Every part of this plant is edible: the peppery leaves, the spurred flowers, and the seeds. A companion planting powerhouse for beans, cucumbers, and cabbage. And one of the most historically significant edible flowers in cultivation — the Incas grew nasturtiums as a salad crop and medicinal herb long before European gardeners discovered them as ornamentals.

Why Grow Empress of India?

• Vivid scarlet blooms — long-spurred 2½-inch flowers in brilliant scarlet against dark, contrasting foliage
• Fully edible — leaves, flowers, and seeds are all edible; peppery, watercress-like flavor
• Companion planting — excellent companion for beans, cucumbers, and cabbage; repels aphids and attracts beneficial insects
• Medicinal heritage — used by the Incas as a salad crop and medicinal herb; rich in vitamin C and antimicrobial compounds
• Container-friendly — grows well in containers and pots with a supporting frame for the trailing stems
• Easy annual — direct sow after last frost; fast-growing and prolific

In the Kitchen

Toss whole flowers into salads of baby greens for color and peppery bite. Use as a garnish for soups, grain bowls, and cheese boards. Stuff flowers with soft cheese or herbed cream cheese. Pickle the unripe seeds as a caper substitute. Mince leaves into compound butters and herb oils. The flowers make a stunning edible decoration for cakes and desserts.

Growing Notes

• Type: Annual; direct sow after last frost
• Light: Full sun to partial shade; partial shade in hot climates extends bloom season
• Soil: Poor to average, well-drained soil; rich soil promotes foliage over flowers
• Watering: Drought-tolerant once established; overwatering reduces flowering
• Spacing: 10–12 inches apart; provide a frame for trailing stems in containers
• Companion plants: Beans, cucumbers, cabbage, squash

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