Plants
Nemesia
Nemesia · Scrophulariaceae
Nemesia may be the most underrated balcony flower: small snapdragon-like blooms in almost every colour, many varieties with a fine vanilla or honey scent, and all of it for months. It stays compact, fits any box and, well cared for, flowers from May into October. Anyone who has once had a scented variety plants it again every year.
- Light
- Sunny to partially shaded, ideally sheltered from fierce midday heat.
- Watering
- Regular — the soil should never dry out completely, nor sit wet.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Nemesia
Nemesia flowers resemble tiny snapdragons, to which the plant is in fact related — both belong to the figwort alliance. Characteristic is the two-lipped bloom, often with a contrasting eye that gives it its friendly face.
The varieties deserve a closer look: the Sunsatia, Nesia and Karoo series cover the whole colour spectrum, while varieties like Wisley Vanilla or Lady Lisa are planted mainly for their intense vanilla scent. We like to place scented varieties at nose height, in hanging baskets or raised boxes.
Nemesias like it sunny but not baking hot. Unlike geraniums or moss roses they are no heat specialists: in very hot summers they take a flowering break in July. A cutback by a third and regular watering reliably brings them back in late summer.
The soil should be evenly moist but free-draining. Nemesia copes badly with a dried-out root ball — wilted plants often recover but drop their buds. The most common care mistake is therefore irregular watering in high summer.
In combinations nemesia is a fine, small-textured partner for large-flowered neighbours: with geraniums, petunias or Cape daisies it forms the lively underplanting. Tone-on-tone plantings of pink and white nemesia with twinspur are among our favourite spring boxes.
Is Nemesia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Nemesia is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children, making it a good choice for balconies where pets roam. As with all ornamentals, deliberate eating is still not advised.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Place in sun to partial shade; light midday shading extends flowering in high summer.
- 02Keep evenly moist — a dry root ball causes bud drop.
- 03Feed with liquid fertiliser every one to two weeks, otherwise nemesia flowers itself empty.
- 04Cut back by a third after the first flush; this triggers the second wave of bloom.
- 05Only move outside permanently after the last late frosts in mid-May.
- 06Place scented varieties raised up or near seating, where the vanilla fragrance shows best.
Frequently asked
- Do all nemesias smell of vanilla?
- No, the scent depends heavily on the variety. Pale varieties like Wisley Vanilla are the most fragrant; many modern, highly colourful series barely smell at all. If scent matters to you, sniff the plant when buying or ask us for scented varieties.
- Why has my nemesia stopped flowering in high summer?
- Nemesia takes a natural break in great heat or after its first flush. Cut the plant back by a third and keep watering and feeding — after two to three weeks a second, often even denser wave of flower almost always begins.
- Is nemesia hardy?
- The usual balcony varieties are not hardy and are grown as annuals. They tolerate light chill into autumn but die with the first proper frost. Overwintering is usually not worth the effort.
- Is nemesia toxic to cats?
- No, nemesia is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. It is also harmless to children, which makes it well suited to family balconies.