At a distance, Nemesia looks a lot like edging lobelia, with flowers that cover low-growing mounds of foliage. Up close, Nemesia flowers might also remind you of orchids. The top four petals form a fan with one large, sometimes lobed petal below. When temperatures are mild, the plant produces so many flowers that they almost completely obscure the foliage.
What is Nemesia?
Nemesia is a small bedding plant with many uses in the garden. Use them as edging plants, ground covers, in mixed borders, woodland plantings and as container or hanging basket plants.
Most varieties grow to about a foot (30 cm.) in height, but there are some that get as tall as two feet (60 cm.). These versatile little plants offer a wide range of flower colors, and some come in bicolors.
The two most popular species are N. strumosa and N. caerulea. Both of these plants have several synonyms. N. strumosa is a true annual that produces 1-inch (2.5 cm.) blue or white flowers and grows up to a foot (30 cm.) tall. N. caerulea is a tender perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10, but it is usually grown as an annual.
The half-inch (1.25 cm.) flowers bloom in purple, pink, blue, and white on plants that grow up to 2 feet (60 cm.) tall with a spread of about a foot (30 cm.).
Nemesia Growing Conditions
Learning how to grow Nemesia involves choosing a planting area where the soil is rich in organic matter and moist but well-drained. Too much water leads to stem rot. Full sun is best, but the plants bloom longer in warm climates if they get some afternoon shade.
Additionally, Nemesia grows better when temperatures are cool. In areas with mild summer temperatures, they bloom from late spring until the first frost. In hot climates, they do well in early spring or fall, but flag in the heat of summer. You can grow the plants as winter annuals in frost-free areas.
Nemesia Plant Care
Older seedlings don't transplant well. If you buy plants, choose those with a lot of buds but only a few open flowers to ease the transplanting stress. If you start your own seeds indoors, plant them in peat pots filled with vermiculite.
When the seedlings are about 2 inches (5 cm.) tall, pinch out the growth tips to encourage a bushy growth habit. Transplant Nemesia into the garden when all danger of frost has passed, spacing them 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) apart. Disturb the roots as little as possible and water deeply after transplanting.
Add a layer of organic mulch to insulate the roots from extremes in temperature and help the soil hold moisture. Once established in the garden, the plants need little care except for watering to keep the soil moist. If the plants stop blooming, cut them back by one-third to bring them back into bloom.
-
Urban Composting Guide: How To Compost In The Middle Of The CityUrban composting does not have to be daunting. You can compost in the city, and maybe even try some urban worm composting!
-
Shrub Diseases And Pests To Watch Out ForShrub diseases and pests can be challenging. Learn how to recognize and eradicate them before they can present a danger to your plants.
-
Growing Nemesia From Cuttings: Tips For Rooting Nemesia CuttingsIf you have some nemesia in your garden and want more, you can try rooting nemesia cuttings. Nemesia cutting propagation isn’t difficult if you know how to proceed. Click on the following article for information about growing nemesia from cuttings.
-
Nemesia Plant Propagation – Tips For Propagating Nemesia FlowersNemesia is a pretty flowering plant that is most often used in gardens as an annual. Propagating nemesia flowers is an economical and easy way to keep this plant going year after year. Learn more about nemesia reproduction in this article.
-
Nemesia Winter Care – Will Nemesia Grow In WinterIs nemesia cold hardy? Sadly, for northern gardeners, the answer is no, as this native of South Africa, which grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10, definitely isn’t cold-tolerant. But this doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the plant. Click here to learn more.
-
Keeping Nemesia In A Pot: Can You Grow Nemesia In PlantersCharming little nemesia in planters bring ease of care along with their whimsical blooms. Add container grown nemesia plants to your patio garden repertoire and enjoy their sunny character. You can learn more about the care of potted nemesia plants here.
-
Cutting Back Nemesia: Does Nemesia Need To Be PrunedNemesia is a small blooming plant popular for the lovely spring blooms. What about when they are done blooming: does Nemesia need to be pruned? Turns out, cutting back Nemesia post-bloom may just give you another round of blossoms. Learn more on pruning them here.
-
Nemesia Troubleshooting: What’s Wrong With My Nemesia PlantWhile nemesia plant problems aren’t usually serious, there are some common nemesia issues for which to keep an eye out. Learn how to spot them in early development so they don’t mar your beautiful flowering plants. This article can help with that.
-
Nemesia Plant Types – Growing Different Varieties Of Nemesia FlowersNemesia flowers grow as small, showy bedding plants. that add colorful swaths of breathtaking, low growing flowers in late spring. New and different kinds of nemesia are more heat tolerant and have a pleasant fragrance. Click here for info on nemesia varieties.
-
Growing Nemesia From Seed – How And When To Sow Nemesia SeedsThe cost of creating a beautiful landscape can add up quickly. Thankfully, many flowers can easily and quickly be grown from seed at only a fraction of the cost. Nemesia flowers are a great option for gardeners. Click this article to learn more about planting Nemesia seeds.
