Empress of India Nasturtium: Deep Crimson Elegance

The Empress of India nasturtium is a classic variety renowned for its striking deep crimson flowers and dark foliage. This compact, bushy plant combines rich color with ornamental appeal, making it a favorite among gardeners seeking dramatic visual impact in a manageable size.

Flower and Foliage Beauty

Empress of India produces brilliant deep red to crimson single flowers that create a stunning contrast against its dark, purplish-green foliage. This color combination is unique among nasturtiums and adds a sophisticated, jewel-like quality to garden spaces. The flowers are single-petaled but produced in abundance, creating a continuous display of rich color throughout the growing season.

The dark foliage serves as a perfect backdrop for the glowing crimson blooms, making each flower stand out dramatically. This variety maintains a compact, mounding growth habit, making it ideal for edging, containers, and small garden spaces where taller varieties might overwhelm the design.

Planting and Care Requirements

Empress of India nasturtiums thrive in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil. Like all nasturtiums, they prefer moderate fertility and are quite drought-tolerant once established. Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost date, spacing them appropriately for their compact growth habit.

Water regularly during the establishment phase, then reduce watering frequency as plants mature. These plants require minimal fertilization and actually produce more flowers when not over-fed. The compact growth habit means less pinching is needed compared to trailing varieties, though deadheading spent blooms encourages continued flowering.

Design Applications and Combinations

The deep crimson flowers and dark foliage of Empress of India make it an excellent choice for creating bold color statements in gardens. Plant it in groups for maximum impact, or use it as edging along borders and pathways. The rich color pairs beautifully with silver-foliaged plants like dusty miller or artemisia, creating striking color contrasts.

This variety is perfect for containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets, where its compact form and abundant flowers create an eye-catching display. The edible flowers add dramatic color to salads and garnishes, while the plant's natural pest-deterrent properties make it a valuable companion in vegetable gardens and mixed plantings.

In Summary

• Nasturtium flowers are one of the most popular edible flowers grown in home gardens. The petals have a slight peppery taste, and the seeds and leaves are also edible! You can even use the seeds as an alternative to capers.

• Not only are the flowers pretty, Nasturtiums are great companion plants! They are also known to deter aphids, whiteflies, cucumber beetles & more. Learn more >

• Nasturtiums should be planted in the spring for a "summer show". Plant in full sun, and in sandy, well drained soil. Generally, the poorer the soil quality, the more flowers the plant will produce! Deadhead your plants regularly to encourage new blooms, all season long. These flowers will self-seed resulting in more flowers for years to come!

• These are PERFECT for beginner gardeners! These annuals are very easy to grow from seed and can be grown just about anywhere, even places that are susceptible to drought.

• The bright flower petals will liven up any garden, with very little effort! They are also GREAT for planting in hanging baskets or containers.