Five Spot (Nemophila maculata)
Nemophila maculata is a species of flowering plant in the Borage family, Boraginaceae. It is an annual herb that flowers in the spring, and it is endemic to California. In the wild it is found primarily in the Sierra foothills, but it is also planted extensively in gardens. The seeds are often included in wildflower mixes. The flowers are bowl-shaped consisting of five petals, white with dark veins and dots. The lobe tips are purple-spotted, leading to the common name. The corolla is 1 to 2 centimeters long and up to 5 centimeters wide. The leaves are up to 3 centimeters long and 1.5 wide, and are divided into several smooth or toothed lobes.
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General Information
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Germination
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Seedlings
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Harvesting
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Seed Saving
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Companion Planting
Also Known As: Lilacbush, Rock Cress, Kotolo Milkweed
Native Range: California
Easy of growing: Easy
Grown as: Short lived Perennial/Annual
Maturity (Blooms): April to June
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade. Part afternoon shade is best in hot summer climates.
Soil Moisture: Medium
Containers: Yes. Great choice for containers and hanging baskets.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. It attracts bees.
Maintenance: Medium
Suitability: This is a cool weather annual that grows best in cool summer climates where nighttime temperatures consistently dip below 65 degrees F. Plants are intolerant of dry soils and drought.
Height: 6-12”
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: 1/4"
USDA Zones: 3a-9b
Produces: Bright white flowers that are marked with a purple spot.
Garden Uses: Borders and rock gardens. Interesting plant for edging. Mass into large drifts. Good selection for pots and hanging baskets.
Suggested Varieties
Poppy, California: Carmine King (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: Dwarf (Eschscholzia caespitosa)
Poppy, California: Golden West (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: Ivory Castle (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: Mikado (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: Orange (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: Purple Gleam (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: Red Chief (Eschscholzia californica)
Poppy, California: White Linen (Eschscholzia californica)
Clarkia: Deerhorn (Clarkia pulchella)
Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)
Bird's Eye (Gilia tricolor)
Lupine: Arroyo (Lupinus succulentus)
Lupine: Russell (Lupinus polyphyllus)
George Russell, a self-taught horticulturalist from Great Britain, produced this lovely hybrid in the early 1920’s after nearly two decades of cross-breeding and experimentation. On being honored by the Royal Horticultural Society for his achievement, Mr. Russell stated that all the really crucial work had been done by the humble little bees in his garden. The name Lupine comes from the Latin “lupus,” meaning wolf. This refers to the folk belief that this plant took nutrients from the soil. Ironically, this plant actually improves the soil because of its nitrogen fixing abilities.
Lupine: Sky (Lupinus nanus)
Penstemon: Palmer's (Penstemon palmeri)
Penstemon: Rocky Mountain (Penstemon strictus)
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