Meghan Markle's Favorite Edible Flower Is Also Ridiculously Easy To Grow

Before she was the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had a lifestyle blog called The Tig. Now, she is going back to her lifestyle roots with her very own Netflix show "With Love, Meghan." On the show, Markle and a celebrity guest tackle some of her favorite DIY projects and recipes. "I've always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it," she says in the show's trailer. Markle loves using ingredients from her own garden such as fresh herbs, dried fruit, and edible flowers to elevate the aroma, taste, and style of ordinary dishes.

One of her favorite edible flowers is one you may not have heard of: nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus). The duchess first learned about nasturtiums in science class as a child, and she has been enamored with them ever since. The flower takes center stage in Markle's Tulip Toasts recipe in Episode 2, and edible flowers can be found in her sun tea and botanical ice recipes as well. Markle even sells edible "flower sprinkles" as part of her lifestyle collection, As Ever. The leaves, petals, and seeds of nasturtiums are all edible, and the peppery taste makes them a great addition to savory dishes and salads. Fortunately, you can grow Meghan Markle's favorite edible flower at home, and it couldn't be easier. 

Nasturtiums can grow anywhere, they don't require fertilizer, and they are drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. The flower's only real need is full or partial sunlight and well-drained soil. Nasturtiums are a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, and an annual everywhere else. There are several benefits to growing nasturtiums. They attract beneficial pollinators, add a lovely pop of color to gardens (orange, yellow, red, or white), and make a great companion plant for many vegetables because they keep pests away.  And as previously mentioned, they are delicious edible flowers, with a taste profile similar to watercress. 

Choose a sunny spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight for the best blooms. Sow nasturtiums ½ an inch deep, 10 to 12 inches apart about a week or so after the last frost (you can also seed indoors in February, but the roots are fragile, so transplant delicately). These edible flowers prefer moist soil, but avoid over-watering. Please be advised that although they are edible for humans, nasturtiums are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.