PlantFiles: Nasturtium
Tropaeolum lepidum

I got the first seeds from 'Plant World Seed'(UK) in 2000.
They said "It has been suggested that this is a form of the equally rare T. hookerianum subsp. austropurpureum." in their online catalog of 2005. The truth is that it's not clear about their origin.

I always sow the seeds in September and they begin to germinate in October. Germination is erratic, but new seeds clearly germinate faster than old ones.
They grow during winter, and bloom in February or March.

At the first year some plants produce tuber(s). As the same way, you can grow them from tuber. Watering them in September, they may wake up and start growing, and you can see a plenty of wonderful flowers next year.

Once you can succeed their germinating, it's easy to grow them. Don't forget to see them every day when the new year begin. Because the growing speed of the stem becomes faster, you're busy to lead it to the support.

In my small veranda, I think there are many chances of hybridization. About T.lepidum, wide range variety have appeared in their color of flowers...typical pale purple, pink, dark pink and peach,etc. T.lepidum might often cause a variation.