
Nemesia Blue Button is one of the many series of low growing plants you can buy as plug plants right now. A delicately scented species of Nemesia caerulea with vivid bluey-mauve flowers standing out against its dark green foliage. A compact but spreading habit makes it ideal for bedding, rockeries and containers.
Nemesia Culture
- Nemesias grow from 1 to 2 feet tall, with sparsely branched plants. They grow erect, with the flowers carried in large clusters at the top.
- Nemesia are available in a wide color range, including yellow, orange, brown, pink, red, and lavender-blue.
- Thompson & Morgan seed selection
- Nemesia are half hard annuals you can sow now or buy as mini-plugs in May.
Growing Nemesia from Seed
- Sow seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date.
- Seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days at 55 to 70 º.
- In areas with cool, dry summers, seeds can be sown outdoors as soon as the ground begins to warm
- Nemesias like fertile, well-drained soil and prefer full sun for flowering but cool evenings.
- Nemesia will tolerate partial shade.
- Transplant seedlings 6 inches apart after the last frost date.
- Pinching the tips of seedlings increases branching.
- Nemesia are useful for edgings, in rock gardens, walls, and for borders.
- They are splendid container plants and make good cut flowers.

Nemesia Varieties.
- Nemesia Masquerade are extraordinary with coconut-scented blooms! An unusual variety with exotic-looking yellow-and-white blooms. Plants are easy to grow, ideal for beds or containers and will bloom 12″ tall right up to first frosts.
- Nemesia denticula Confetti or Celebration are popular tender perennials distinct from their half-hardy annual relatives producing lots of attractive flowers throughout the summer. The plants prefer moist but loose sandy soil. Extra watering may be needed in a dry season. They look equally good planted in the border where they are good for planting at the front.
- Fire King is a scarlet-flowered variety. St. George is white and deep red bicolor.
- Nemesia versicolor is a similar, more compact species. It has a variety of colors including truer blues. Blue Gem is a very compact variety growing to 10 inches high with blue flowers. Nemesia caerulea (below) is available in true blue, lavender, and white.
- I also like the Nemesia Tapestry or the blue and white KLM series from Thompson & Morgan
- Nemesia grows 10″ high on unassuming plants
- The flowers start blooming in June and last through August. Try the self colour varieties.
- Sow seeds late winter to mid spring at 55-60F in a good seed compost on the surface of compost and gently firm down.
- Keep soil damp but not wet. Do not exclude light and do not let the soil temperature become too high
- Germination usually takes 7-21 days.
- Transplant seedlings in to 3″ pots as soon as they are large enough to handle.
- Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out in a sunny spot after all risk of frost has gone
- Plant close together for a mass of colour

Frothy coloured annual Nemesia is available as plug plants now or seeds for winter sowing. The range of vibrant colours is increasing all the time as a result of selection and breeding. Nemesia can be used in beds, borders or to brighten up the garden in tubs, planters, on the patio or even as a windowsill pot plant.
My Nemesia Tips
Different Nemesia
Nemesia strumosa ‘Carnival’ offers a wide range of colours whilst Mello is a red and white variety. Nemesia strumosa KLM is a blue and white flower shown below. Nemesia cheiranthus Shooting Stars has a bright yellow and white flower with a branching habit and coconut fragrance.

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