Tropaeolum
minus
Black
Nasturtium
The blossoms, leaves and
buds of this Fire
herb are edible and have a
peppery taste. The blooms have a soft sweet scent up close and
attract hummingbirds. This magick herb is often associated with Ostara.
It's a
native of Peru that was brought back to Europe by the Conquistadors in
the late 15th-early 16th century. The Incas ate it as a salad
vegetable, and in South America it was used to treat wounds. The Sun
King was so taken with these plants that he had them displayed in his
garden (and perhaps that's why some consider this a Sun herb). The
Renaissance herbalist John Gerard considered
nasturtium to be a
kind of cress, but it is actually not related to cress (Nasturtium
officinale). Nasturtiums are a Colonial plant - they've grown in the US
since at least 1759.
The flowers were a favorite of the Victorians, and in the language of
flowers, they stand for patriotism and fatherly love. Nasturtium is
good for ritual work requiring an increase of energy or for rites meant
to burn away aspects of the self. This is also a nice plant for cottage
gardens. Top
Nasturtium is antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial due
to the mustard
oils in the plant. Chewing the leaves is a good way to disinfect one's
mouth. The leaves are also very tasty in potato salad or egg
salad and on cream cheese
sandwiches. They're a means for boosting appetite and stimulating
digestion. The flowers are less peppery; they contain a lot of vitamin
C and make an excellent
flavoring (and coloring) for vinegar and are beautiful in a delicate
tossed salad. This might be a Fire plant, but
the leaves have always seemed Moon-like to me. To Linnaeus, the
18th-century naturalist who developed the system of plant names
commonly used in the West today, the leaves looked like shields, and so
he gave the plant the name Tropaeolum, from tropaeum, shield-like.
Nasturtium is a good plant for children to grow (along with
sunflowers), because the seeds are big and they are reliable growers.
The plant is also known as Capucine cress (the the flower shapes, which
are thought to
resemble the hoods of Capucine monks), Indian cress. This is one of my
favorite plants, and one of the first I ever grew. Top
How to grow: After danger of frost is past, soak seeds in tepid
water overnight and plant them outside in well
drained soil or in a pot about 1/2" deep (up to the first joint of your
pointer finger). This plant like soil on the sandy side and not too
rich. Plant in full sun where the summers are not too hot; otherwise,
grow in morning sun. I grew these last year in an urn on the east side
of the house (in upstate NY) and got flowers but would have gotten more
in a sunnier area. Don't fertilize, or you will havem any leaves and
few flowers, but keep them well watered so they do not get too hot.
Some people have good luck using nasturtiums to trap bugs away from
vegetable or other crops. If you notice that the leaves are looking
wilty, check the undersides
for tiny aphids. If you see them, wash them off with soapy water or
insecticidal soap like Safer. This plant is an annual. Collect seeds
and save them in a cool, dry place to plant next year. General
growing
info Top
Tropaeolum
minus
Black Nasturtium
12 seeds $3.75
This is a non-vining variety
that gets 12"/30cm tall and that blooms from June to October. The young
flowers are a dark Victorian brown; the older flowers
are almost black.
Uses in Witchcraft & Magic:
Celebrating Ostara
Elemental Magic
Fire Herb
Victorian Favorite
Other black
flowers
© 2004, 2018 Harold A. Roth; No reproduction without permission