About
Dusky raspberry to rose-pink flowers lighten to cream with purple veining and appear from June to September. A compact, bushy annual, up to 25cm in height, with rounded, shield-shaped green veined foliage. The flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish or in salads. Great in pots and containers.
About the genus
Tropaeolum can be annuals or perennials, bushy, trailing or climbing by twining stems, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and showy funnel-shaped flowers with five long-clawed petals and often a spur
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden
ToxicitySkin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationBest grown in poor, well-drained soil; if the soil is too rich foliage will be produced at the expense of flowers. Will tolerate light shade but flowering is better in full sun
PruningNo pruning required. Deadhead to encourage further flowers
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown under glass in spring and planted out after danger of frost has passed. May self-seed in place in good conditions, but germination is often too late to produce good flowers
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite and whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to virus diseases