Thank you. This just further proves my lack of plant knowledge.. lol I thought it was a weed, since I am fairly certain this plant was not intentionally planted in this location. There are also smaller versions starting in the grass section right below this planter, so it is spreading.Oh man . . . that's not a weed (unless it pops up in a place you don't want it to). That's edible nasturtium. A pretty nice plant and pleasant to look at when it blooms.
Thanks for the information! I am going to avoid these all together.Hi @yaycolin! Volunteer Nasturtiums, eh? It happens. Seeds probably got pooped out by some critter along the way! ?
Hard to tell how much sun these plants are getting where you found them. They like full sun and generally bloom all summer into the fall. You might try replanting them in a sunny location. As far as your tort eating them, it's OK as part of a varied diet. Nasturtiums contain oxalic acid which is not good in huge amounts as it binds to calcium and prevents it from getting absorbed. Read more about it here: Harmful Properties
Nasturtium flowers are gorgeous and have an interesting feature called a "spur" where they hide their nectar. Turns out nectar is what flowers use to entice pollinators (bees, hummingbirds, etc.) . The pollinators come in, drink the nectar and - probably unknowingly!- pollinate the flower at the same time. Sneaky flowers! Anyway, you can see the spur in the picture on the right - it trails out behind the flower itself.
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picture and more details courtesy of Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension
Nasturiums naturalize very easily; it’s not uncommon to see them blooming near a creek in a shady area or just a damp place in the shade near me. There is no reason to avoid them whatsoever. That information on oxalic acid is out of date and has not ever been proven by solid research. They are perfectly fine as part of a varied diet. My Russian is off and on as to whether she’ll eat them though.Thanks for the information! I am going to avoid these all together.
Hi @RosemaryDW. I can agree to disagree with you on TTT Plant Database. I do always look to see why they don't recommend a specific plant; sometimes I think they're being too conservative and will put that plant on my OK list with a note. I will say though that I haven't found any other plant database for tortoise folks that even comes close to this one (warts and all) - if you know of one, I'm all ears!Nasturiums naturalize very easily; it’s not uncommon to see them blooming near a creek in a shady area or just a damp place in the shade near me. There is no reason to avoid them whatsoever. That information on oxalic acid is out of date and has not ever been proven by solid research. They are perfectly fine as part of a varied diet. My Russian is off and on as to whether she’ll eat them though.
Even better those pretty flowers are peppery and are often used to fancy up gourmet salad mixes or just as a garnish; you might want to give them a shot yourself! But check for ants first.
This is going to be long I’m afraid but these are good issues to consider.Hi @RosemaryDW. I can agree to disagree with you on TTT Plant Database. I do always look to see why they don't recommend a specific plant; sometimes I think they're being too conservative and will put that plant on my OK list with a note. I will say though that I haven't found any other plant database for tortoise folks that even comes close to this one (warts and all) - if you know of one, I'm all ears!
I am interested in your current research on nasturtium toxicity. I find nothing that says there is no toxicity (again, I'm all ears). This article from Botanical Online Nasturtium Toxicity doesn't list oxalic acid specifically, but does list several other components that give me pause. There are so many plants that aren't controversial, I'm happy to just avoid the ones on which there is question.
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