Available in a rainbow of colors, this annual blooms when temperatures are cool during the spring and fall.
In addition, many varieties come in bicolor blooms that, up close, are reminiscent of miniature orchids.
Where to Plant Nemesia
Plant nemesia in a location with well-draining, fertile soil in partial shade.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Its quick-growing habit also addsto containersand hanging baskets, as it spills nicely down the sides.
Plant nemesia near seating areas to enjoy its pleasingly light fragrance.
The shorter varieties are lovely as a groundcover and serve as attractive edging plants.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Nemesia also adds a pop of color to rock gardens.
To plant nursery starts, dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container.
Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before it placing in the hole.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well.
Plant 4 to 6 inches apart and add mulch to protect from weather extremes.
Nemesia Care Tips
Relatively low-maintenance plants, nemesias are easy to keep happy.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Light
For the best flower production,grow nemesias in full sun.
However, giving them a little afternoon shade may extend their blooms a bit longer.
However, they tend to go out of flower once night temperatures are consistently above 70 degrees.
Credit: Justin Hancock
This is especially true of older varieties, which are particularly sensitive to heat.
Nemesia prefers cooler, dry climates over humid ones.
Also, give nemesia a dose of fertilizer when you cut them back to rejuvenate them.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
For the amounts to use, follow product label directions.
Pruning
Deadhead right after blooming to stimulate new growth.
If you grow them as perennials, cut them back as short as possible for winter.
Credit: Justin Hancock
If the plants begin to go out of bloom during the season, they can become a little rangy.
Use a large container with ample drainage, and water as soon as the soil is dry.
Nemesia is best kept as an outdoor potted plant.
Credit: Justin Hancock
When grown as an annual, nemesia does not require repotting during the growing season.
You’ll know when root rot has set in if the stems fall to the ground.
Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and dip it in rooting hormone.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Add the cuttings to small pots filled with a soilless planting mix and cover them with clear plastic.
Once the plants take root and new growth appears, plant them outside after the last frost of spring.
Sow nemesia seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Fill a container with seed-starting mix and sprinkle the seeds on top.
Press the seeds into the mix, making sure they are only lightly covered.
Put them in a cool location that receives bright light but not full sun.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Keep the soil damp until you see new growth.
When the seedlings are big enough, transplant them into individual 3-inch pots.
As they grow, pinch them back a couple of times to encourage compact growth.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It blooms profusely in spring and fall and grows 7 inches tall and wide.
It grows 16 inches tall and 8 inches wide.
‘Serengeti Upright Purple’ Nemesia
Nemesia’Serengeti Upright Purple' offers lovely purple flowers.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
It grows 14 inches tall.
‘Safari Violet Rose’ Nemesia
Nemesia’Safari Violet Rose' bears violet-pink flowers on 14-inch-tall plants.
‘Serengeti Red’ Nemesia
Nemesia’Serengeti Red' is an especially eye-catching selection with deep-red flowers.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It reaches 10 inches tall.
It grows 14 inches tall.
It grows 14 inches tall.
Credit: Denny Schrock
‘Candy Girl’ Nemesia
Nemesia’Candy Girl' bears soft-pink flowers on compact, 12-inch-tall plants.
Juicy Fruits Kumquat Nemesia
NemesiaJuicy Fruits Kumquat features large gold, orange, and cherry red blooms.
These lightly fragrant flowers are on heat-tolerant plants that don’t require deadheading.
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Bluebird Nemesia
NemesiaBluebird is a wonderful blue variety with hundreds of small blooms.
These plants can stand up to summer heat and bloom through the fall.
‘Sunsatia Pear’ Nemesia
NemesiaSunsatia Pear is a frost-tolerant selection that bears white flowers marked with orange.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It grows 18 inches tall.
Plants range from tiny creeping groundcovers to 30-inch-tall cut flowers, which are a favorite with florists.
Zones 3-10
Snapdragon
Every garden benefits fromsnapdragons.
The blooms come in many colors, including some with color variations on each flower.
Plus, snapdragons are an outstanding cut flower.
Snapdragons are acool-season annual, blooming in early spring when warm-season annuals are just being planted.
They’re also great for fall color.
Plant snapdragon in early spring, a few weeks before your region’s last frost date.
Zones 7-10
Pansy
The genus Viola hasa wide array of plantsfor the spring garden.
They don’t mind cold weather and can even take a little snow and ice.
By summer, pansies bloom less, and their foliage starts to brown.
Use nemesia in a number of ways.
Nemesia also adds color to rock gardens.
