About

A compact, bushy, tender perennial, usually grown as an annual, with dark green leaves and very aromatic flowers from May to November. The flowers have pale pink to lavender upper petals, white to pale yellow lower petals, and a yellow eye.

About the genus

Nemesia can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs of bushy habit, with simple, opposite leaves and 2-lipped flowers in short racemes or solitary in the leaf axils

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial, Bedding
HabitBushy, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
FragranceFlower

Care notes

CultivationGrow in moist, fertile soil in full sun, ideally neutral to slightly acid. Flowering stops in dry weather unless watered freely. Pinch out growing tips to produce bushy plants, and instead of deadheading, trim off flowering shoots when initial flowering is finished to promote more flowers
PruningTrim off flowering shoots when first flush of flowers finished
PropagationPropagate by seed
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free, but may suffer from foot and root rots in wet soils