Tropaeolum majus, also named garden nasturtium, Peruvian fire flower, Indian cress or monk’s cress, is a flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae, originating in the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia. The annual or short-lived perennial is a beautiful summer ornament in the garden and even thrives in boxes on the balcony. There are both climbing and bushy types.
Garden nasturtium is a fast-growing plant. Its leaves are large and nearly circular, with 3 to 15 cm in diameter. Rainwater falling on the leaf surface gathers into globular droplets which roll off the leaf, leaving it dry and clean. Electron microscope scanning reveals tiny bundles of waxy particles which repel the water.
All of the above-ground parts of garden nasturtium are edible. The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient; it has a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of watercress.