Nasturtiums [Corrected!]

Family: Tropaeolaceae (Nasturtium family)
Genus: Tropaeolum
Species: speciosum [really!]

Will the real Tropaeolum speciosum please stand up?

The plant I spotted at a local garden center, the one labeled by a commercial grower as Tropaeolum speciosum ‘Red Wonder’, the one that stole my heart and inspired my August 2004 column, will have to stay seated. ‘Red Wonder’ is a humble T. majus rather than a regal T. speciosum. It is an annual rather than a perennial. It has no tubers for life support. And aphids just love it.

Both the flowers and the foliage of ‘Red Wonder’ are eye-catching—they certainly caught mine and obliterated whatever modicum of good sense I can claim. I wanted that plant to be the carefree, rambling perennial I’d read about. I was excited about the widespread availability of a new-to-us, very attractive vine admirably suited to our Northwest gardens. My only concern was its possible invasiveness—it’s become a pest plant in some areas around the world with similar climates. So while the form of the plant I held in my hand differed from the descriptions in my books, I discounted the difference and trusted the tag. At that very moment, I cast aside caution and forgot the advice I’m always passing along to others: Don’t rely on common names, ever, and be consistently leary of tags. The most reputable growers can make mistakes. It’s challenging even for experts to keep everything straight, with so many new varieties in constant development to keep our interest—and sales figures—up.

It’s one thing to misstate a flower color or some minor aspect of form. But to confuse a low-growing annual with a vining perennial? That was a majus error on my part. You may recall I wrote of the “dark leaves that appear almost blue.” Those leaves were the first clue. They didn’t seem to match any descriptions I could find of the leaves of T. speciosum. Those were consistently described as “five-lobed”—which the leaves of the plant in my hand were most definitely not. Neither were the leaves of T. speciosum characterized as “blue-green.” Hmmm. I continued to discount the absence of lobes and the discrepancy in color. Perhaps, I told myself, this is just a very young specimen and the leaves will “change” as it matures. Ha!

Using “perhaps” and giving in to wishful thinking won’t in a zillion years change an annual into a perennial, or one species into another. There’s just no way to wish a majus into a speciosum.

In front of me, I had an actual plant. On my desk, I had fine photographs, good descriptions, and one really detailed botanical illustration—none of which matched the plant. As I was pondering this after the column went to print, I was set straight by a local gardener who knows one nasturtium from another.

You may recall I sent out a call for an example of T. speciosum in situ—one growing in place in a local garden. I was given a lead by a Master Gardener and found the plant in Bellingham in quite an extraordinary garden on the south side of town. T. speciosum has been tended there now for eight years by a very accomplished gardener, who went to visit the garden center to take a look at the nasturtium I’d seen. She told me right away, “That’s not the same plant.” And of course, she is right. It is not.

The T. speciosum growing in her garden has the characteristic lobed leaves, the smaller and slightly more elegant flowers, the different form, and the vining habit I’d read about. The pictures I took in her garden don’t do it justice. But thanks to a very accomplished photographer named John Crellin, I’m able to show you the true colors and form of T. speciosum. Note those leaves! Mr. Crellin, who lives and works in North Somerset, England, has graciously given me permission to use his copyrighted photograph for posting with this column only—because we are nonprofit and our purpose is education. I ask visiting readers to note that he is entitled to photo credit and to respect his intellectual property.

I can hear you all asking where you might see an actual T. speciosum up close and personal. Right now, the only one I know of here is in that south-side garden. I’ll plead for cuttings and keep you posted. I haven’t found it available for sale at any of the usual—or unusual—garden centers in our area. In fact, they’re calling me to find out where they can get it! Heronswood has T. speciosum listed in their 2004 catalog—under vines, where it belongs—but notes limited quantities, spring availability only, and no on-site sales. Please let me know if you spot any others and I’ll pass that information along. In the meantime, I’ll be spending any free moments this month reminding myself to be wary of tags bearing false names.