Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Nasturtium was often grown as an edible plant in the 18th century, as seen by it's inclusion in Thomas Jefferson's vegetable garden. Jefferson listed "Nasturcium" as an ornamental plant and recorded growing it alongside several edible plants in 1774.
Jefferson recorded planting "Nasturcium," "Cresses," "Celery," and "Radichio" on March 26, 1774, "in the meadow" (the location of which has not been determined). This is in keeping with the popular use of Nasturtium as an edible plant, either by pickling its seeds and flower buds (much like capers), or by using its leaves in salads. Later, however, Jefferson listed "Nasturtium" with other ornamental plants in a "Calendar of the bloom of flowers in 1782" and showed it blooming from July until the end of September. Bernard McMahon sold nasturitum in his 1803 seedlist as an "esculent" plant.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.
When you're here...
Between April and October, all house tours come with a free guided Garden Tour, or you can explore the grounds on your own with the Bloomberg Connects App
Shop
Heirloom Seeds and Plants from the Monticello collection
Plant history in your gardens with seeds and plants from Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants.
