Nemesia 'Fleurie Bluebird'

RHS Plant Profile

nemesia 'Fleurie Bluebird'

RHS 1999

Synonyms

Nemesia 'Blue Bird' [1], Nemesia 'Bluebird' [1]

Bedding Herbaceous Perennial

A bushy, deciduous herbaceous perennial reaching a height of around 50cm with thin, dark green leaves. Flowers are fragrant, purple-blue with bright yellow centres and appear in the spring and summer.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Nemesia can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs of bushy habit, with simple, opposite leaves and 2-lipped flowers in short racemes or solitary in the leaf axils
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, fertile soil in full sun. Flowering stops in dry weather unless watered freely. Pinch out growing tips to produce bushy plants, and instead of deadheading, trim off flowering shoots when initial flowering is finished to promote more flowers

Propagation

Take softwood cuttings from the ends of non-flowering shoots in late summer and overwinter plants in frost-free conditions or take softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Trim off flowering shoots when first flush of flowers finished

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may suffer from foot and root rots in wet soils