Nemesia Profile

Written by Iris
Nemesia plant (Scrophulariaceae) is a biennial herb in the Scrophulariaceae family. As a vibrant and nurtured flower, it has a great vitality and can reach heights of up to two feet. The leaves are lanceolate and he flowers also come in a variety of colors, such as white, yellow, red, and blue, and some are even bi-coloured. Nemesia (Scrophulariaceae) is native to South Africa and prefers a warm, sunny environment. The optimum cultivation temperature is 15-30 ° C. Nemesia is easy to grow and will continue flowering well for long periods of time. It is fast growing, compact and very hardy making them ideal for borders, garden beds, pots and containers. Nemesia copes well with the extremes of heat and cold, and a light trim back will rejuvenate the plant and quickly bring on another flush of flowers, making them ideal for a long lasting display of colour. They are ideal for a cottage garden. The following details the morphological characteristics, habitat, how to care and pest & diseases control of Nemesia and so on .

Nemesia Picture

 

Nemesia info

Botanical Name Scrophulariaceae
Common Name Nemesia
Plant Type Annual
Mature Size 10-24 inches
Sun Exposure Part to full sun
Soil Type Rich soil, sandy
Soil pH 5.5-7.5
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
Flower Color White, red, pink, blue, orange
Hardiness Zones 2-10
Native Area Africa

Ecological habits of the Nemesia

Learning how to grow Nemesia involves choosing a planting area where the soil is rich in organic matter and moist but well-drained. Too much water leads to stem rot. Full sun is best, but the plants bloom longer in warm climates if they get some afternoon shade. Additionally, Nemesia grows better when temperatures are cool. In areas with mild summer temperatures, they bloom from late spring until the first frost. In hot climates, they do well in early spring or fall, but flag in the heat of summer. You can grow the plants as winter annuals in frost-free areas.

How to grow and care for Nemesia

Nemesia Lighting Requirements

The nemesia plant will grow best in full sunlight, however these plants may bloom longer (particularly in warmer climates) if they do happen to get some afternoon shade.

Nemesia Soil Care

Nemesias require a planting area with soil that's moist but well-drained, as well as rich in organic matter.

Nemesia Watering

An abundance of water will lead to stem rot on a nemesia plant. While it's important to keep the soil moist for these particular flowers, be wary of over-watering.

Nemesia Temperature & Humidity Care

Nemesia will grow best in cooler temperatures. In areas that have more mild summer temperatures, they can be expected to bloom from late spring until the first frost of the year, while in hotter climates they will look their best in early spring or fall. Be prepared for your nemesias to die back in the heat of summer. These plants can be grown as winter annuals in frost-free regions.

Nemesia Fertilizer

Be sure to fertilize your mature nemesias using a a slow-release fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer once in the spring, or you can also choose a water-soluble fertilizer that can be applied twice monthly as they are actively growing.

Varieties of Nemesia

Nemesia hybrids to buy as plants:

Nemesia ‘Berries and Cream’ is a pretty mixture of purple, mauve and white
Nemesia ‘Ice Pink’ has soft pink blooms
Nemesia ‘Rhubarb and Custard’ has exceptionally eye-catching bi-coloured flowers, purple on the upper half with a bright yellow centre fading to pale yellow on the lower part
Nemesia ‘Sunshine’ is bright yellow, fading to pale yellow on the outside of the petals
Nemesia ‘Tropical’ bears flowers of an unusual blend of orange and dark pink
Nemesia ‘Wisley Vanilla’ flowers are pure white with a yellow eye, borne on upright stems. Particularly strongly scented

Nemesias to grow from seed:

Nemesia cheiranthus ‘Shooting Stars’ bears unusual and exotic-looking flowers which are yellow with long spurs, and scented.
Nemesia strumosa ‘Carnival’ series. Compact dwarf habit with flowers in red, yellow, purple, orange, pink and white. Upright habit.

Common Pests/Diseases

Powdery Mildew:

A white powdery substance on leaves and stems is often fungal mold, also called powdery mildew. This starts in spring when conditions are still damp and humid, but temps have warmed. It will spread among the nemesias, but likely won’t affect other nearby plants. Avoid this fungus by watering plants at the roots, as overhead watering encourages spread and development.

Aphids:

If you see a swarm of tiny black bugs around new growth when you’re nemesia troubleshooting, it is likely aphids. Blast them off with the water hose, trying to avoid wetting foliage unnecessarily. If they return, spray with an insecticidal soap or neem oil when the sun is not shining on the plants.

Western Flower Thrips:

Tan scars on foliage and white scars on flowers are an indication of this pest. Look for a light brown pest with clear wings. Treat thrips with insecticidal soap before moving on to insecticide if soap spray is unsuccessful.

Bacterial Leaf Spot:

Another problem caused by using overhead irrigation, greasy black spots start on lower leaves and move up the plant. Water at the roots to avoid this issue.

Nemesia Companion Plants

Dianthus

The quintessential cottage flower, pinks are treasured for their grasslike blue-green foliage and abundant starry flowers, which are often spicily fragrant. Depending on the type of pink, flowers appear in spring or summer and tend to be pink, red, white, rose, or lavender, but they come in nearly all shades except true blue. Plants range from tiny creeping groundcovers to 30-inch-tall cut flowers, which are a favorite with florists. Foliage is blue-green.

Snapdragon

Few gardens should be without the easy charm of snapdragons. They get their name from the fact that you can gently squeeze the sides of the intricately shaped flower and see the jaws of a dragon head snap closed. The blooms come in gorgeous colors, including some with beautiful color variations on each flower. Plus, snapdragons are an outstanding cut flower. Gather a dozen or more in a small vase and you'll have one of the prettiest bouquets around. Snapdragons are especially useful because they're a cool-season annual, coming into their own in early spring when the warm-season annuals, such as marigolds and impatiens, 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. Deadhead regularly for best bloom and fertilize regularly. Snapdragons often self-seed in the landscape if not deadheaded, so they come back year after year, though the colors from hybrid plants will often be muddy looking. In mild regions, the entire plant may overwinter if covered with mulch.

Pansy

From tiny, cheerful Johnny jump-ups to the stunning 3-inch blooms of Majestic Giant pansies, the genus Viola has a spectacular array of delightful plants for the spring garden. They're must-haves to celebrate the first days of spring since they don't mind cold weather and can even take a little snow and ice! They're pretty planted in masses in the ground, but also cherished for the early color they bring to pots, window boxes, and other containers. By summer, pansies bloom less and their foliage starts to brown. It's at this time that you'll have to be tough and tear them out and replant with warm-season annuals, such as marigolds or petunias. But that's part of their charm—they are an ephemeral celebration of spring!