Canary Creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) seeds

The canary creeper climbs through summer with lemon-yellow flowers like little feathered stars

The canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) is an unusual relative of the better-known garden nasturtium. Its flowers are bright yellow, finely fringed and almost feather-like in appearance. This gives it a much lighter, more exotic expression than many other nasturtiums. With its long, delicate tendrils, it climbs supports, fences, trellises and pergolas, quickly bringing lively height to the garden, balcony or terrace.

Tropaeolum peregrinum originally comes from South America. Like other species of the genus Tropaeolum, it later found its way into European gardens as a striking ornamental plant, where nasturtiums were valued for their colourful flowers, vigorous growth and edible plant parts. The botanical species name peregrinum refers broadly to something foreign or from elsewhere - a fitting indication of the history of this special climbing plant from the New World.

In the garden, the canary creeper is mainly grown as a richly flowering annual climbing plant. Compared with the garden nasturtium, it grows more finely, more lightly and with a much stronger tendency to climb. It is excellent for giving a summery covering to bare climbing frames, fences, balcony railings or large planters. With good care, its flowering period lasts for many weeks, and the bright yellow flowers create especially beautiful accents among the green foliage.

The canary creeper is also interesting from a culinary point of view. The flowers and young leaves are edible and have a peppery, slightly mustard-like flavour. The flowers are suitable as an edible decoration for salads, cold platters, herb quark, cream cheese and summery dishes. The young leaves can be used sparingly as a spicy addition. In this way, the plant combines ornamental value, edible flowers and vertical greenery in a particularly charming way.