Nemophila

Family Hydrophyllaceae. Name: derives from the Greek words 'nemos' - grove and 'phileo' - I love, which is explained by the fact that a number of species prefer partial shade to full sun.

Description: the genus comprises 11 species native to North America, specifically California and Oregon, where they grow in sunny groves. Annual, showy, herbaceous plants up to 20 cm tall. Leaves pinnately lobed, pubescent. Flowers rather large, broadly bell-shaped, solitary, of various colors, located in the leaf axils. There are 400 seeds per 1 g, retaining viability for 2 years.

In the wild it grows on moist slopes of the California mountains. In its native California and Oregon nemophilas are called "baby blue eyes." An annual plant with spreading or procumbent shoots up to 15 cm tall. Leaves elongated, pinnate or deeply lobed. Flowers solitary up to 3 cm in diameter, located in leaf axils, white, various shades of blue, lilac, cornflower-blue, with a white, sometimes brown, eye in the center or with spots. In cultivation since 1833. It has numerous cultivars and forms with larger flowers. In catalogs often listed as N. insignis Dougl. ex Benth. There are many cultivars - Atomaria (Snustorm), whose flowers are white with small black dots; Coelestis - flowers with a blue edging on the margins of white petals; Discoidalis (Penny Black) - with flowers almost black in color; and Oculata - with black spots at the base of the corolla petals. In the wild this plant is found in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Locals call it "five spots" because of the large dark-lilac spots on the outer side of the flower petals.

A low annual, semi-prostrate plant up to 20 cm tall. Stems prostrate, branched, sparsely pubescent. Leaves pinnately lobed, pubescent. Flowers white, broadly bell-shaped, with a bright blue spot at the tip of each petal. Fruit - an almost spherical capsule with several faceted seeds. In cultivation since 1848.

Location: they grow well in partial shade, but abundant and prolonged flowering is possible only with good sunlight.

Soil: prefer loose, fertile, well-drained soil, with increased demands on moisture conditions. Plants stop flowering in warm, dry weather if not watered adequately.

Propagation: by seed, sow as early as possible and ensure the soil does not dry out. Seeds germinate in two weeks. Thin to 20 cm spacing. For autumn flowering sow in June.

Uses: nemophila is effective near water features, combines easily with other plants and looks excellent in borders. It can be sown along paths and between bulbous and tuberous plants - these plants will compete with each other.