Vines and Other Climbing Plants

Tropaeolium – Perennial Nasturtium

Tropaeolium is the Latin name for the Nasturtium family, but it is listed separately here because most people think of Nasturtiums as being only annuals and those are a very different plant to the Peregrinum (Canary Creeper) strains some of which are perennials and herbaceous. As with other Nasturtiums, they are happy in sun or part shade and like moist soil, (See Link To Nasturtiums) but unlike the popular annuals that will die when the frost comes, some of the “Canary Creeper,” family simply die down only to re-shoot again in the Spring.

The Canary Creeper will grow up to 6ft and as it doesn’t have tendrils, but is a twining climber, it may need a little encouragement to help it effectively cover a trellis.

Unlike other Nasturtiums the smallish, blue green leaves are almost hand shaped with 5 broad lobes. The yellow/orange flowers come in late summer and are also a different shape and smaller than those of the common Annual Nasturtium. However, they do last longer and pruning may result in second flush of flowers.

As with all plants, new perennial varieties of the Canary Creeper family are becoming available at retail centres, with other colours and shades.