Nemesia – Nemesia spp.

Common Name: Nemesia

Botanical Name: Nemesia spp., ne-MEE-zee-a

Decorative Life: Can last 4-6 weeks depending on garden environment.

Flower Color: Blue, Purple, White, Yellow

Availability: Year Round

Treating plants with AVG, an ethylene synthesis inhibitor, helped maintain the plants in a vegetative state such that cuttings could be produced.

• As a member of the Scrophulariaceae (figwort family), some of its common relatives include foxglove, Veronica, Penstemon and Calceolaria.
• Native to mostly South Africa.

• Flowers are flat, less than 1 inch across, in sprays at stem ends. This species produces many flowers under many growing conditions. It is a day neutral plant.
• Stems are leafy, to 12 inches tall, plant is classed as a dicotyledon.
• N. fruticans has vanilla-scented flowers while other species vary in their flower fragrances.

Should be stored at 50F.

• Many species in this 3000 plus species family are grown for ornamental and medicinal purposes including slipperwort, speedwell, mullein, bearded-tongue, foxglove, snapdragon, toadflax, monkey-flower, cape-fuchsia, coral-plant and blue-lips.
• Nemesia was a name used by Dioscorides. N. strumosa is the most common garden species.
• Some favorite cultivars and their respective flower colors include ‘Compact Innocence’ (white) and ‘Blue Bird’. Will generally do well in light levels at least bright enough to read a newspaper in comfort but more light (up to filtered full sunlight) would be better.