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Empress of India Nasturtium

seeds
Choose an item size to add to your cart.
$2.75
Item: 5282-A
$4.25
Item: 5282-B
$8.95
Item: 5282-C
$42.00
Item: 5282-D
Tropaeolum majus
(60 days) Open pollinated.

Annual. Hailed as a “great novelty” when introduced in 1884, and still popular today. Dark purplish-green edible leaves and stems make a perfect background for the edible spicy-hot brilliant crimson-scarlet flowers that stand out in bold relief. A good contrast with other nasturtium varieties. Do not feed heavily. 16" plants.

Supplier Transparency:
② Family-owned companies or cooperatives, domestic and foreign
③ Domestic and foreign corporations not part of a larger conglomerate
ships year-round
Quick Details
Hybrid Status
open pollinated
Days to Maturity
60 days
Lifecycle
annual
Bloom Color
crimson scarlet
Compare
Compare with other Nasturtiums
Variety Product Type Hybrid Status Days to Maturity Lifecycle Bloom Color
Alaska Mix seeds open pollinated 60 days annual multi-colored
Cherrelle seeds open pollinated annual cherry red
Empress of India seeds open pollinated 60 days annual crimson scarlet
Cream Troika seeds open pollinated 65 days annual creamy yellow
Jewel Mix seeds open pollinated 42 days annual multi-colored
Jewel Mix
Organic 		seeds open pollinated 42 days annual multi-colored
Tall Climbing Mix seeds open pollinated 65 days annual multi-colored
Peach Melba seeds open pollinated 60 days annual primrose cream
Whirlybird 7-Color Blend seeds open pollinated 60 days annual multi-colored
Additional Information

Nasturtium

Annual. The name literally means ‘twisted nose,’ from the Latin nasus for nose and tortus for twist. Edible flowers with a spicy sweet fragrance lend a peppery-sweet taste to salads, with each color adding contrast and subtle variations in flavor. Round leaves also edible, and seeds can be pickled to make “capers.” Formerly used as a remedy against scurvy.

Culture: Blooms keep coming if cut, needs moisture and cool temperatures for optimal blooming. Intolerant of frost. Germinates in 7–10 days at 65°. Cover the seed. Avoid excess nitrogen, but don’t relegate nasties to the worst soil. Likes full sun. Start indoors or direct seed after last frost.

Flowers

All flower seeds are open-pollinated except where noted.

Days in parentheses after a variety indicate days to first bloom.

Saving Flower Seeds Is Easy!

Almost all the flowers we list are open- pollinated and easy to save seed from. Some types cross readily, but who cares! Save the seeds, plant them, and be surprised.

These flowers are especially easy to save seed from: bachelor’s buttons, calendula, cerinthe, cosmos, love-in-a- mist (nigella), nasturtium, poppy, strawflower, sunflower, sweet pea and tithonia.

Learn more about seed saving.

Germination Testing

For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.

Our Seeds are Non-GMO

Non GMO

All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.

Shipping

From early May through mid-December, items shipping from our garden seeds warehouse ship twice a week, usually Tuesday and Thursday. For quickest turnaround time order online by noon Monday or Wednesday.