Plant Details

Tropaeolum tuberosum

Mashua

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Tropaeolum tuberosum.

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Common names

17 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Anu[1]
  • Knolcapucien
French
  • Mashua
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 块茎旱金莲[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 塊莖旱金蓮[1]
Czech
  • lichořeřišnice hlíznatá[1]
Danish
Finnish
  • mukulaköynnöskrassi[1]
German
  • Knollige Kapuzinerkresse[1]
Italian
  • Nasturzio dei giardini[1]
Japanese
  • ショクヨウキュウコンキンレンカ[1]
Polish
  • nasturcja bulwiasta[1]
Quechua
Slovak
  • kapucínka hľuznatá[1]
Spanish
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Tropaeolum tuberosum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Anu — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • cubio — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • papa amarga — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • mashwa — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • mashua — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • lichořeřišnice hlíznatá — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • ショクヨウキュウコンキンレンカ — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • 塊莖旱金蓮 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • 块茎旱金莲 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • nasturcja bulwiasta — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • Anu — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • Nasturzio dei giardini — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • mukulaköynnöskrassi — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • Knollige Kapuzinerkresse — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.
  • kapucínka hľuznatá — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 336156; Tropaeolum tuberosum.

General information

Scientific name: Tropaeolum tuberosum
Accepted name (Kew): Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pav. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Tropaeolaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Tropaeolum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Mashua
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7-10
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Root, Leaves
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Repellent

Description

Cooked tubers have a peppery taste that many find quite unpleasant. The flavor can be improved by freezing the tubers after cooking. As a result, they are considered a delicacy by many people. It has also been noted that the taste improves when the tubers are harvested after they have been frozen, but severe frost can damage the tubers. According to other reports, the tubers could be partially dried before use. The tubers can be up to 10 cm long and 5 cm thick, rich in vitamin C, and when dried, they contain up to 16% protein. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable, while the flowers can be consumed raw.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 30/11

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 170314; name ID 2442622; Tropaeolum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 258997; name ID 2519640; Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pav..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tropaeolum tuberosum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2710267, ID 7CVLP: Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pav. (accepted).

    Source checked on .