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Nemesia Wikimedia Commons
Scrophulariaceae

Nemesia

Nemesia strumosa

Sweetness, kindness, daintiness.

Family
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Nemesia
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Type
Annual or short-lived perennial
Height
20–40 cm
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Annual; perennial in 9–11
Lifespan
One season

Did you know

  • Many nemesias have a sweet vanilla, coconut, or fruit-punch fragrance that intensifies in cool morning air.
  • The two-lipped flowers look like miniature snapdragons but are softer and packed in dense clusters.
  • Nemesias love cool weather and burst into bloom in spring and fall when temperatures dip below 75°F (24°C).
  • Modern bicolor varieties are bred to bloom continuously through summer if deadheaded and given a midsummer trim.
  • They're a favorite of small bees and hover flies, providing pollen and nectar in shoulder seasons when little else is blooming.

Color meanings

Pink

Tender affection

Uses

  • Containers
  • Cool-season borders
  • Hanging baskets
  • Edging