Nemesia belongs to the large snapdragon family Scrophulariaceae, which consists of about 5 100 species worldwide, and includes the lovely foxgloves or Digitalis. Nemesia comprises of more than 60 species of annual and perennial herbs, most of which are endemic to South Africa. The winter rainfall regions, from the southwestern corner of Namibia, into South Africa’s Namaqualand Region, and the Western Cape towards the Cape Peninsula are regarded as the Nemesia hotspots. Their range extends further along a narrow band towards Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape; and there are also summer rainfall species which occur in the northern region of Namibia, as well as parts of eastern South Africa, extending into Zimbabwe and Botswana.  

The various species go by many common names including: Cape Jewels, Cape Snapdragon, Karoo Nemesia, Fragrant Nemesia, Witleeubekkie, Rooileeubekkie, Karooleeubekkie, Balsa Mienie, Maagpynblommetjie, and Wildeleeubekkie,

Nemesias are one of those endearing little South African annuals that never fail to delight gardeners, and they have been in cultivation for a long time, largely due one very elegant lady, Hildagonda Johanna Duckitt (1839 to 1905), an author of two books, and South Africa’s first celebrity chef. Hilda, as she was called, was described as the dame of Cape cuisine, a celebrated hostess, yet a homely spirit and matriarch of the Duckitt family. She was born at Groote Post (Darling) on 21 February 1839 and spent more than half her life at this historic farm.

Nemesia 'Poetry' Picture courtesy Ball StraathofAt Groote Post, Nemesias grew and bloomed with profusion and Hilda loved these little flowers so much that that her house in Wynberg was called Nemesia Cottage. She also collected seeds from Nemesia strumosa  at Groote Post, and in 1890 she sent them to the word famous Suttons Seed Company in England, and by 1893 they started marketing the seeds in a range of colours. To her disgust, Sutton, the horticulturist responsible for growing the flower commercially, did not acknowledge her contribution when registering the flower. Nevertheless, this beautiful but rather straggly wild flower was developed over the years into one of today's most popular bedding plant varieties.

Her two published books are cherished historical manuscripts containing not only Hilda’s treasury of Cape Cuisine at the time, but also delightful cameos of Victorian life in the Cape.  Her first book titled: "Hilda's Where Is It? of Recipes” was published in England, and became the most popular South African recipe book published in English. It was published in 1891, and in use almost ten years prior to, and ten years post the Anglo-Boer War, and included many practical, tried and tested recipes, including old Cape, Indian and Malay dishes, and the same book also includes tips on how to polish furniture, or clean silk, as well as a collection of herbal home remedies.

Her second book: "Hilda's Diary of a Cape Housekeeper" was published in 1902, just three years prior to her death in Cape Town in 1905, aged 65. It is a chronicle of daily events and monthly work in a Cape household, with numerous cooking recipes, and notes on gardening, poultry keeping etc.

Although all the wild species of Nemesia are delightful, and many show great horticultural potential, only a few have been selected for breeding purposes, and due to extensive hybridization, have produced a wonderful selection of garden varieties, in gorgeous colours. These garden nemesias are wildly popular overseas, but sadly, at home, our selection is limited.

Nemesia strumosa Picture courtesy Nu-leaf NurseryNemesia strumosa

Hybrids of the gorgeous Nemesia strumosa are freely available, and the original wild form still grows on disturbed ground and sandy coastlines and flats, from Hopefield to Melkbos, north of the Cape Peninsula, but sadly, this nemesia  is yet another one of our precious indigenous species that has been classified as Near Threatened, having lost approximately 80% of its natural habitat to wheat cultivation alone, and it is unknown how much is being lost due to alien invasive plants, and coastal developments.

Nemesia Carnival Mix (Nemesia strumosa) has very brilliantly coloured flowers on a dwarf plant, about 25cm tall and wide, and loves full sun but will take partial shade in hotter regions. It comes in mixed hues of cream, yellow, orange, crimson, pink, and bi-colours, flowering in winter and spring.

Nemesia ‘Sundrops’ Mix (Nemesia strumosa) blooms late winter and spring and has a very diverse colour range of gold, orange, rose pink, and white – in a wide array of patterns. It grows about 25cm tall and wide, and loves full sun but will take partial shade in hotter regions. This variety won the Fleuroselect Gold Medal, which is awarded to new varieties that clearly surpass existing varieties in terms of breeding innovation and beauty.

Nemesia Nesia 'Denim' Picture courtesy Ball StraathofNemesia fruticans

Nemesia fruticans occurs naturally throughout the summer rainfall regions of South Africa, and is endemic to these areas. It is found in grassland areas growing mostly amongst rocks, and like many other grassland perennials it has a woody taproot that helps it survive fires as well as winter frost. The wild flowers resemble little snapdragons, with two lips and a spur, and are a dusty-pink, white or mauve, and sometimes even lighter in colour, and each little bloom is decorated with bright yellow protuberances in the throat. It flowers abundantly in spring and early summer, but the flowering season can extend through summer and even into autumn.

Newer hybrids are available in a range of vibrant colours, and produce bushier plants than the species, developing into mounded upright plants with larger flowers and glossy green leaves. In cooler gardens they may flower from September through summer and even into autumn.

Nemesia 'Poetry' (Nemesia fruticans) is an improved series of this species which produces masses of larger, snapdragon-like flowers on long, slender stems, and when in full bloom the glossy green leaves are almost obscured by the flowers. It is available in a lovely mixture of vibrant colours including bright pinks, purple and white. This annual grows about 35cm tall and wide, and in milder winter regions it will start flowering in winter and continue through spring. In cooler gardens they may flower through summer and even into autumn. Poetry grows best in sun to partial shade and branches very well without pinching to produce bushy plants which fill out fast.

Nemesia Nesia 'Fantasy' Pink Picture courtesy Ball StraathofNemesia ‘Nesia’

Nemesia ‘Nesia’ is a Trade Mark garden hybrid with large winter and spring blooms that are lightly fragrant with small yellow centres, in striking single and bi-colours, including burgundy, dark blue, pink, magenta, white, yellow and orange, on top of healthy, shiny green foliage. These floriferous plants have a mounded, upright habit, growing to a height of about 30 to 40cm with a spread of 30cm, and are grown in sun or partial shade.

In the Garden:

All nemesias are amazing landscaping species for gardens small or large, and can be just as pretty planted in pots and hanging baskets as they are when used as an edging plant in mixed borders, and as fillers between other larger plants and shrubs.

Use them to add pops of colour in grassy gardens or rocky outcrops, and paired with alyssum, dianthus, stocks, pansies or violas, and winter and spring flowering bulbs, they put on an irresistible show.

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Plant drifts of these delightful little annuals, and you will never be able to imagine your garden without them again.

Cultivation/Propagation:

In South Africa the annual cultivars of Nemesia are popular with gardeners as winter and spring flowering bedding plants, and although they will take light frost, in cold winter regions they are usually treated as half-hardy annuals that are planted out in early spring after all danger of frost has passed, to bloom before the weather becomes too hot. Nemesias don't mind high humidity, but in extremely humid climates, they may be more susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot, and is therefore planted during the coolest months.

Nemesia 'Nesia' Tropical Picture courtesy Ball StraathofNemesias also do well in cool, dry climates as long as they can be watered regularly. In mild climates they will start blooming in winter and continue through spring and early summer, until it gets too hot in summer.  Being a summer rainfall species, Nemesia fruticans can flower in spring, and continue through summer and into autumn.

Nemesias love to grow in full sun or light shade, but in hotter climates where spring is short, they do best in morning sun and afternoon shade.  They also grow well in rich garden soil that drains well, and is high in organic matter. Potted plants do well in an ordinary commercial potting mix amended with sand, vermiculite, or perlite. Feed the plants once in late winter or spring with a balanced slow-release fertiliser; or you can use a water-soluble fertiliser that can be applied twice monthly as they are actively growing. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and do not let the plants dry out completely, especially when in full bloom. On the other hand, too much water can lead to stem rot.

Newer hybrids are compact growing, but gardeners often pinch out the growing tips of young plants to promote bushy growth, and when the plants stop blooming, you can often bring them back into bloom, by cutting them back by a third.

Garden centres will have trays of seedling available at the right time for your specific region, but if you wish, seeds can be sown in trays or directly into well-prepared garden beds in autumn, germinating best in soil temperatures between 18 and 20°C. Do not cover the seed deeply as it requires light to germinate, which will take 3 to 5 days, and the plants will bloom within 12 to 15 weeks.

If the plants are allowed to set seed before being removed from the beds, Nemesias will often self-seed in the garden

Problems, Pests & Diseases:

Generally nemesias are pest-free, but may be subject to root rot.

Warning:

Nemesia is a good choice for parents and pet owners since it is non-toxic for children, dogs, and cats. However, just because this plant is not dangerous, it does not mean you should let your dog or puppy chow down. Eating too much of anything can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Always supervise small children and pets in the garden, and discourage them from chewing on plants.