The most frequently grown member of the tropaeolum family is T. majus , commonly known as nasturtium. Rather confusingly, there is also a totally different group of plants whose Latin name is nasturtium, but these are in fact a group of semi-aquatic plants. Nasturtiums are native to South America where they are found from Bolivia to Colombia. They love the full sun and are a good choice for new gardens to get almost instant results.
Flowers are available in a myriad of colours to suit most planting schemes.
Varieties range from climbers and trailers to bushy forms that will make rounded domes of flowers and foliage. The climbing kind are used to great effect in Monet's garden at Giverny where they are allowed to run, not as might be expected up tripods of canes or beanpoles, but across a wide gravel path. As the season progresses, these rivulets of flowers and foliage cover more and more gravel. Long a favourite with children, these are easy and quick to grow. A pair of tiny star-shaped leaves soon appears, fattening into luscious green parasols with a distinctive smell and with orange and yellow flowers following close behind.