Nurturing Nemesia: A Guide to Planting and Cultivating these Colorful Gems

Nemesia, a plant once popular in traditional gardens, fell out of favor due to its challenging growth in warm climates. However, new types have been developed that can thrive in the summer and bloom until fall, particularly in mild weather conditions. Nemesia is a great addition to cool-season gardens, as it comes in various colors, except green, making it easy to find the right shade for any combination. The plant is hardy in zones 9-11, and it can be grown as a perennial. Nemesia can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or as edging plants. To plant, seeds can be germinated indoors and then moved outside during spring in cold weather climates and fall in warm ones. Alternatively, nursery starts can be planted by digging a hole, removing the plant from the container, loosening the roots, and backfilling with soil. Mulching can protect the plants from extreme weather conditions. For optimal growth, nemesia requires full sun but can also survive with partial shade. It needs organically rich, well-drained soils and regular watering, especially during hot summers. Nemesia prefers cooler, dryer climates over humid ones. Deadheading after blooming can stimulate new growth, and a dose of fertilizer can help rejuvenate them. Propagation can be done through stem cuttings or seeds. Root rot and powdery mildew are common problems that can be prevented through proper care. A popular type of nemesia is ‘Aromatica True Blue.’

Introducing Peter Krumhardt’s Nemesia line featuring the aromatic and beautiful ‘Aromatica True Blue’. This stunning plant grows up to 14 inches tall and boasts soft-blue flowers that emit a sweet fragrance. Also available is the ‘Lemon Mist’ Nemesia, which is equally lovely and delightful.

Meet Justin Hancock and his latest discovery in the plant world – the ‘Lemon Mist’ Nemesia. This beautiful selection boasts stunning purple and white flowers with yellow blotches. It is a prolific bloomer, providing abundant blooms during both spring and fall seasons. Additionally, this variety has a compact growth habit, reaching a mere 7 inches in height and width. Another noteworthy Nemesia species that Justin recommends is the ‘Opal Innocence’ Nemesia.

Meet ‘Opal Innocence’ Nemesia, a delightful plant that produces sweet-smelling lavender-gray flowers in the spring and fall. Standing at 16 inches tall and 8 inches wide, it’s the perfect addition to your garden. And if you’re looking for something with a bit more of a regal appearance, look no further than ‘Serengeti Upright Purple’ Nemesia. This variety boasts an upright growth habit and stunning purple blooms.

Looking for a pretty flower? Check out ‘Serengeti Upright Purple’ Nemesia. It boasts beautiful purple blooms and can reach a height of 14 inches. Another option to consider is the ‘Safari Violet Rose’ Nemesia.

Meet Marty Baldwin and his latest floral discovery, the Nemesia ‘Safari Violet Rose’. This charming plant features beautiful pink-violet blooms that sit atop 14-inch-tall stems. Additionally, we can also admire the ‘Serengeti Red’ Nemesia, another gem in Baldwin’s collection.

Looking for a striking addition to your garden? The ‘Serengeti Red’ Nemesia is a great option with its beautiful deep-red flowers and compact size of just 10 inches. Another impressive choice is the ‘Serengeti Upright Violet + White’ Nemesia.

Introducing the charming ‘Serengeti Upright Violet + White’ Nemesia, featuring stunning violet-purple blooms with delicate white markings. This beautiful variety can grow up to a height of 14 inches. Also, let’s not forget the ‘Serengeti Sunset’ Nemesia, which is equally delightful.

Meet the stunning Nemesia ‘Serengeti Sunset’ with its vibrant red flowers highlighted with hues of yellow, orange, and pink. This beauty can grow up to 14 inches in height. Another great option is the ‘Sunsatia Cranberry’ Nemesia, which boasts an equally impressive display of cranberry-colored blooms.

Meet Edward Gohlich, an expert in gardening and landscaping. He recommends the Nemesia plant variety called ‘Sunsatia Cranberry’ which boasts of vibrant red flowers and can trail up to 36 inches on containers and baskets. Another great Nemesia variety he suggests is the ‘Candy Girl’.

Meet Peter Krumhardt’s Nemesia, the gorgeous ‘Candy Girl’ with lovely soft-pink flowers that bloom on petite, 12-inch-tall shrubs. Another delightful addition to his collection is the Juicy Fruits® Kumquat Nemesia.

Introducing the Nemesia Juicy Fruits® Kumquat by Denny Schrock, which boasts stunning gold, orange, and cherry red blooms. Not only are these flowers pleasing to the eye, but they also emit a subtle fragrance. The best part? These plants can withstand high temperatures and don’t require constant maintenance such as deadheading. Another noteworthy variety is the Bluebird Nemesia.

Meet Dean Schoeppner, a plant enthusiast who highly recommends the Nemesia Bluebird variety for its stunning blue hue and abundant blooms that can withstand the scorching summer season and continue to flourish well into autumn. Another favorite of his is the ‘Sunsatia Pear’ Nemesia, which also boasts impressive blooms.

Meet Marty Baldwin, who has some exciting news about the Nemesia plant. He recommends the Sunsatia Pear variation that can withstand frost and produces lovely white flowers with a touch of orange. This type of Nemesia grows up to 18 inches in height. For those who want to pair their Nemesia with other plants, Marty suggests Dianthus as an excellent companion plant.

Denny Schrock, a floral expert, describes pinks as the perfect flowers for a cottage garden. The plants are characterized by their grasslike blue-green leaves and numerous star-shaped blooms that emit a spicy fragrance. These flowers come in an array of colors such as pink, red, white, rose, or lavender, and they bloom either in spring or summer. However, you won’t find them in true blue shades. Pinks are diverse plants as they range from small creeping groundcovers to tall cut flowers that can grow up to 30 inches, making them a popular choice among florists. These plants can thrive in areas with zones 3-10.

Moving on, another great addition to your garden is the Snapdragon.

Snapdragons can be a great addition to any garden. They come in various colors, including multicolored flowers, and are a fantastic option for cut flowers. These cool-season annuals bloom in early spring, which is perfect timing since warm-season annuals are typically being planted around the same time. They also add lovely fall colors to your garden. Be sure to plant snapdragons a few weeks before your area’s last frost date in early spring, if you’re in Zones 7-10.

Peter Krumhardt suggests that the Viola genus offers a diverse selection of plants suitable for the spring garden. These plants are resilient and can tolerate cold temperatures, including light snow and ice. While they can be used to create beautiful masses in the ground, pansies are particularly effective at adding early color to pots, window boxes, and other containers. However, as summer approaches, pansies may produce fewer blooms and their foliage may begin to deteriorate. These plants can thrive in zones 3-11.