Description

Nasturtium ‘Alaska’ varieties have green leaves marbled with white. The pattern of the marbling will vary from plant to plant. The yellow-flowering type is a clumping variety which spreads a little more than the red flowering variety. Large, open flowers attract pollinators. Nasturtium ‘Alaska’ varieties are not as hardy as the trailing varieties of nasturtium. If a trailing variety is planted nearby, and not kept in check, It can smother the ‘Alaska’ variety. Flowers and young leaves are edible, usually eaten raw. Single petals can add a touch of colour and a peppery kick to a salad. Immature seed heads can be used as ‘poor man’s capers’. Nasturtiums are drought tolerant once established.
The wide, open flowers mean that nasturtiums can easily cross-pollinate so the seeds which self sow may not be the same colour as those which grew in the same place the previous year. In order to maintain the ‘Cherry Rose’ strain, hand pollinate then cover the fertilised flower to block insect visits (or grow only ‘Cherry Rose’).