nasturtium

American  

[na-stur-shuhm, nuh-] / næˈstɜr ʃəm, nə- /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Tropaeolum, cultivated for its showy, usually orange, red, or yellow flowers or for its fruit, which is pickled and used like capers.

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nasturtium British  

/ nəˈstɜːʃəm /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Tropaeolum, esp T. major, having round leaves and yellow, red, or orange trumpet-shaped spurred flowers: family Tropaeolaceae

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Etymology

Origin of nasturtium

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin nāsturtium, nāsturcium the name of a kind of cress, taken to mean, perhaps by Latin folk etymology, “something that twists the nose” (referring to its acrid smell), from Latin nāsus nose ( def. ) + tormentum (derivative of torquēre “to twist”) torment ( def. ) + -ium ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Simple ones to grow are nasturtium for those cabbage whites, the small white and the large white butterflies, and things like sweet rocket for the orange tip butterfly,” she says.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2024

Rumpf, a horticultural therapist, points out fragrant spearmint, chives, chamomile and thyme, then pops an orange nasturtium flower in her mouth.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 22, 2023

Adding catnip, marigold, nasturtium, or rosemary to your bean patch will deter flea and bean beetles.

From Salon • May 30, 2022

He liked rarities such as the connoisseur’s rambling rose, Aviateur Bleriot, but he saw the same regal presence in a humble nasturtium or that fleshy summer annual no longer in vogue, portulaca.

From Washington Post • Sep. 28, 2021

And nasturtium seeds for her garden, and a book of songs to teach us.

From "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan