As we start the cooler, winter gardening season, there are many color choices of pansies and violas to ponder. But I want you to be on the lookout for some unique color annuals that will certainly brighten your spring landscape.
This week, I want to concentrate on Nemesia fruticans. You’ll probably see it labeled as just plain Nemesia, as there has been lots of hybridizing going on with these pretty plants.
Nemesias are native to South Africa and look similar to snapdragons, which really isn’t surprising, as they are closely related. In fact, if you carefully squeeze the flowers, you’ll see the little dragon open its mouth. The 1/2- to 1- inch flowers commonly have pouch-like sacs under their fronts.
Flower colors include white, purple and shades of yellow. It is common to see purple veins and yellow within the flower throat. The interior of the flower throat is bearded like an iris. Flowers are held on four-sided, square stems and are slightly aromatic, reminding me of vanilla.
Bluebird is an old standby variety that can’t be beat. It has bright-blue flowers and a white and yellow throat. Bluebird should be widely available this spring.
Some of my favorites are the Juicy Fruit series, whose colors can put on a dazzling display with delicious-sounding names like Papaya (yellow with golden throat), Citron (white and yellow with yellow throat), Kumquat (yellow, pinks and oranges with striped throat) and Watermelon (pinks and reds with yellow throat). The flower colors are so brilliant, they are almost gaudy.
Juicy Fruit hybrids grow to about 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide. This is a typical growth expectation for most other nemesias.
Newer selections to be on the lookout for include Honey Blue Eye, which is soft violet-blue; Pink Fruticans, a nice pastel pink; and pure Honey White. If you’re interested in a larger plant with a more open growth habit, I suggest Spicy Snow White.
Nemesias have been selected primarily for use as container plants. These colorful hybrids are being developed for use as colorful annual bedding plants for the spring and summer. As long as the temperatures stay mild — 70s during the day and 50s at night — Nemesias continue to bloom prolifically. That means they seem to be perfectly suited to our fall Mississippi gardens as well.
At the Mississippi State University plant trial locations, we are evaluating nemesias in the ground and in containers. We are trying to determine if we can plant in the fall and carry the plants over into the spring like pansies and violas.
So start looking nemesias after the first of the year, and if you can’t wait, ask your local garden center if they can get some for your landscape right now.
Dr. Gary Bachman is an associate Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi and hosts the popular Southern Gardening television and radio programs.
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