Nemesia caerulea

Scrophulariaceae
Annuals, Perennials, Flowers

NEMESIA

Colorful South African natives, some with fragrant flowers.

Remove faded flowers to prolong bloom. Use as bedding or rock garden plants, in hanging baskets, as bulb covers. None is at its best in hot weather, though new Nemesia caerulea hybrids are more heat tolerant than other types. All need well-drained soil.

Nemesia caerulea

To 2 ft. high, 1 ft. wide, withsmall bright green leaves andupright stems carrying manyintensely fragrant blossoms inblue, pink, or lavender. Flowersare narrower than those ofN. strumosa. Often blooms for months without special attention (almost all year in cool-summer, mild-winter climates), but if flowers decline, cut plant back to stimulate new growth and more bloom. Tolerates light afternoon shade. While the species prefers cool weather, the many hybrids withstand temperatures as high as 95°F (35°C). Growing about1 ft. high and wide are ‘Innocence Compact’, with yellow-centered white flowers, and ‘Innocence Compact Pink’, with pink blooms. The Poetry (12–14 in. high), Aromatica (12–14 in. high), and Sunsatia(6–12 in. high) series all comein a range of colors. Particularlyheat-tolerant ‘Bluebird’ hasblue-violet blossoms centeredwith yellow. Well-establishedplantings of the species andhybrids are hardy to 15°F(–9°C).