The Chilean Nasturtium - Tropaeolum tricolor - is a stunning, rare vine with psychedelic blooms!  The plant makes hundreds of these vivid scarlet, yellow, and blue flowers, which tend to face the same general direction, like a school of tropical fish swimming through the plant!  If you can provide cooler conditions for it, it's an exciting centerpiece for any collection.  Flowering-size tubers are rarely seen for sale.

The vine tends to grow 4 to 6 feet tall, although you can keep it shorter if you need to.  It has wiry stems and dainty leaves, both of which are surprisingly durable.  The leaf stems are sensitive to touch and act like tendrils, wrapping themselves around branches or a plant support as it climbs upward.  Around late winter, once the plant has all its leaves, the flowers make their appearance.  The blooms are about an inch long and are pollinated by hummingbirds.  In the spring, after the flower show is over, the vine goes dormant until autumn.

During the winter growing period, it prefers temperatures below 80 degrees (27°C) with nights that are cool and frost-free.  The plant might not thrive in areas that regularly get above 80 degrees from fall through spring, especially if nights are warm (above 64° / 18°C).  It is said to be able to handle a light, brief frost, but i recommend protecting it from freezing temperatures.  During the summer dormancy, the tubers must be kept dry.  

The plant grows well in a 2-3 gallon container.  Give it a trellis with slender supports for it to climb around.  A tall tomato cage works well for this.  Use well-draining, slightly-acid soil that is kept moist during the growing season.  The plant prefers part sun, with protection from strong sun in the spring.  Over about 40% humidity is best.  In the right conditions, it is an easy and very fun plant!

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Tips on planting the tuber