Flowering at the moment (Sep 3, 2002) another popular genus with many gardeners, not easy, but well-worth the effort and resulting beautiful display.

A genus containing more than 60 species, of South American plants, including the common nasturtium.

The bright flowers of quaint shapes are usually freely produced on long stalks and the rapid growth of many of the climbers render the Tropaeolum a very useful and decorative plant for many purposes.

The climbing species mentioned here grow rapidly, support themselves by twining leaf-stalks, and can be used for covering a trellis, or fence, either in pots or planted out.

The soil should not be to rich, otherwise leafy growth will be made at the expence of flowers.

As a rule they would prefer a warm sunny place in a rather dry or at least well-drained soil.

They also don't like alkaline soils, but are best in soils of turfy loams with plenty of leaf-mould slightly on the acid side.

During growth they require much water but when the stems die down the pots should be stored in a dry, cool place and no water should be given until new growth begins again.

Bill Dijk
Tauranga, New Zealand