Nasturtium Tip Top Mahogany

Nasturtium Tip Top Mahogany Seeds

(Tropaeolum minus — Dwarf Compact Nasturtium — Heirloom)

Nasturtium Tip Top Mahogany is the Small Nasturtium, Tropaeolum minus, was initially introduced into English gardens from Peru, traveling through Spain and France before it arrived in 1596. It was cultivated for hundreds of years because of the high value placed upon its seeds, which were pickled when full-grown but still green — containing abundant vitamin C, ideal for warding off scurvy in seafarers. Owing to the intense and aromatic spiciness of the plant, nasturtium was given the common name of Indian Cress after watercress, the flowers and leaves dressing up the foraged salads of the era.

Tropaeolum minus ‘Tip Top Mahogany’ is a compact, bushy annual forming a small mound of rounded, parasol-like, golden-green leaves. It boasts a profusion of long-stalked, funnel–shaped, deep mahogany-red flowers that float above the foliage, making a fantastic contrast to the luminous foliage. This petite nasturtium is ideal for containers and small-space gardens, growing up to 30 cm tall and wide.

The color of Tip Top Mahogany is what distinguishes it most sharply from all other nasturtiums in this catalogue. Where the standard nasturtium palette of orange, yellow, and cream reads as warm and cheerful, mahogany-red occupies a completely different register — dark, rich, jewel-like, and deeply dramatic. The molten deep red blooms floating above yellow-green shield-shaped leaves is an artful combination unique among nasturtiums — unlike the standard orange, salmon, and yellow varieties that echo the flower’s warm-toned reputation, mahogany creates a visual tension between the flower’s dark blood-red and the luminous golden-green leaf below it that is genuinely unlike any other combination in cool-season bedding.

Nasturtiums prefer nitrogen-poor soil, which encourages flower production over lush foliage growth. They resent root disturbance — direct sowing is always preferred. Nasturtium seeds are quite large and easy to plant, making them an excellent choice for young budding gardeners. Nick the seed coat and soak in warm water 24 hours before planting to encourage germination. Water consistently and do not fertilize.

Variety Details

• Botanical Name: Tropaeolum minus (syn. Tropaeolum majus nanum in some catalogues)
• Variety: ‘Tip Top Mahogany’
• Series: Tip Top — dwarf compact nasturtium series
• Type: Heirloom open pollinated
• Plant Type: Hardy annual
• Common Names: Nasturtium, Indian Cress, Small Nasturtium
• Origin of species: Peru and the Andes — introduced to European gardens 1596
• Family: Tropaeolaceae
• Note: Tropaeolum minus is distinct from the large climbing Tropaeolum majus — smaller in all parts, more compact, and the original species cultivated in European gardens before the larger species became dominant

Key Features

• Darkest and most dramatic color in the nasturtium palette — deep molten mahogany-red unlike any standard nasturtium
• Flowers held entirely above the foliage canopy — the golden-green leaf and dark red flower contrast is unique among nasturtiums
• Compact dwarf mounding habit — 25–30 cm, no staking, no trailing, self-contained
• Tropaeolum minus — smaller, more refined species than the large climbing T. majus
• Fully edible — flowers and leaves with characteristic peppery nasturtium flavor
• Direct sowing strongly preferred — resents root disturbance
• Poor soil preferred — rich soil or fertilizing reduces flowering significantly
• Soak seeds 24 hours before sowing to improve germination speed
• Self-seeding once established
• Fast germination: 7–14 days at 13–18°C

Plant Information

• Height: 25–30 cm
• Spread: 25–30 cm
• Plant Type: Hardy annual
• Habit: Compact, bushy, mounding — dwarf, non-trailing, non-climbing
• Flower Form: Funnel-shaped, single, open-faced
• Flower Color: Deep molten mahogany-red — the darkest color in the nasturtium range
• Foliage: Rounded, parasol-like, golden-green — shield-shaped with central stem attachment
• Edible: Flowers and leaves — peppery flavor

Germination Instructions

• Nick the seed coat and soak in warm water 24 hours before planting to encourage germination — nasturtium seeds have a tough outer coat that benefits significantly from pre-soaking.
• Direct sow after last frost into the final growing position — nasturtiums resent root disturbance and perform significantly better when sown directly.
• If starting indoors, use individual peat pots that can be transplanted whole to avoid disturbing the roots. Sow 1.5–2 cm deep, cover with soil, and firm gently.
• Keep consistently moist until germination which occurs in 7–14 days at 13–18°C. Final spacing: 20–25 cm between plants. Water consistently and do not fertilize — lean soil is essential for flower production.
• For Kuwait: direct sow outdoors in October for cool-season flowering from November onward.
• Pre-soak seeds overnight before sowing.
• Tip Top Mahogany does not require indoor germination setup — October’s ambient outdoor temperatures in Kuwait are ideal for direct sowing without special preparation.

Growing Tips

• Thrives in full sun in poor, well-drained soils.
• Some afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer areas.
• Water consistently and do not fertilize — avoid over-fertilizing as this leads to excessive foliage growth and fewer flowers.
• The lean soil preference of Tip Top Mahogany is critical — this is one of the few ornamentals in this catalogue that actively performs better in poor, sandy, unfertilized soil than in rich, well-amended growing conditions.
• Kuwait’s naturally sandy, mineral soil is ideal.
• Deadhead regularly to maintain continuous flowering and prevent premature seed setting — the dark mahogany blooms that have faded to a brownish purple are less decorative than fresh flowers and benefit from removal.
• Leave a few seed pods to mature at the end of the season for self-seeding. Nasturtium will self-seed, keeping a presence in the garden from season to season.

Gulf Planting Season

• Direct sowing outdoors: October to November
• Peak flowering season: November to March
• Note: Tip Top Mahogany is one of the simplest cool-season annuals to establish in Kuwait — it requires no indoor setup, no refrigeration, no special germination conditions, and no fertilizer.
• Direct sow in October after pre-soaking the large seeds overnight, and the plants will establish rapidly in Kuwait’s warm sandy soil and produce their first flowers within 7–10 weeks.
• The dark mahogany color is at its most vivid and saturated in the cooler temperatures of December through February — the color deepens in the cold in a similar way to how roses deepen in color under cool conditions.

Garden & Culinary Uses

• Tip Top Mahogany fills a unique color niche in Kuwait’s cool-season garden — it is the only truly dark, jewel-toned flower in the compact nasturtium range, and its color combination of deep red-mahogany over luminous golden-green foliage is unlike anything else in the cool-season ornamental palette.
• In mixed container plantings, the dark flower colour provides the deepest tone in a warm-toned scheme alongside cream ranunculus, orange marigold, and gold coreopsis.
• In border edging, a row of Tip Top Mahogany creates a sophisticated low hedge of dark colour and rounded foliage that reads as both formal and naturalistic simultaneously.
• The spicy edible flowers and leaves make a festive addition to salads — pick handfuls and place into old glass jars for perfect compact bouquets.
• The flowers can also be stuffed with soft cheese or cream cheese as canapés.
• The dark mahogany petals add a dramatic color note to white-plated dishes and mezze presentations — their deep red tone is striking against pale backgrounds in a way that the more common orange and yellow nasturtium flowers are not.
• The unripe seeds, as with all nasturtium varieties, can be pickled as a caper substitute.