Dwarf Nasturtium 'Ladybird Rose'

'Ladybird Rose' is a delightful and unusual dwarf nasturtium that is perfect for smaller UK gardens or containers. Unlike the common trailing varieties, this is a neat, bushy plant that grows to approximately 20-30cm. The flowers are a unique soft rose-pink, each petal marked with a darker raspberry-red blotch at the base, reminiscent of a ladybird's spots. The circular, light-green leaves are also attractive and have a peppery taste, making them a great addition to salads along with the edible flowers. As a hardy annual, it is incredibly easy to grow and can be sown directly into the soil in late spring. It actually flowers better in poorer soils; in overly rich soil, it tends to produce lots of leaf and few flowers. It is a great choice for children's gardens as the large seeds are easy to handle. It is also useful for attracting black bean aphids away from other crops, though it is beautiful enough to hold its own in a decorative border.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Poor to average, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H3 — down to −5°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.