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Groundcover

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Perennial (annual in OK) with edible flowers, leaves, seeds (unripe). Self-seeding annual that behaves like a perennial in Zone 7A; plant once

Edible
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun
WaterLow water
System layerGroundcover
Plant typePerennial (annual in OK)
Plant spacing8-12 in apart
Mature size12-18 in / spreading
Chill hours0-200
Soil pH6.0-7.5
HarvestMay–Oct
Expected yieldContinuous flowers and leaves
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Self-seeding annual that behaves like a perennial in Zone 7A; plant once

Disease resistance

Excellent

Pruning

Allow to self-seed; pull excess plants

Care

All parts edible; peppery flavor; trap crop for aphids; self-seeds prolifically in OK

Drought tolerance

High once established

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationSelf-fertile; self-seeding
Compatible partners–
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Alaska (variegated)Empress of IndiaJewel MixWhirlybirdGleam

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible; Attractor; Repeller

Edible parts

Flowers, Leaves, Seeds (unripe)

Companion plants

Fruit trees, Cucumbers, Squash, Tomatoes

Community / companion role

Pollination: Self-fertile; self-seeding; Companions: Fruit trees, Cucumbers, Squash, Tomatoes

Food-forest layer

Ground Cover

Oklahoma classification

Primary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 6.0-7.5

KNF / fertility schedule

Spring FPJ; minimal otherwise

Maintenance

Allow to self-seed; pull excess plants

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.