1. * Five-spot – Nemophila maculata
(nee-MOFF-ill-uh mac-you-LAY (or lah)-tuh)
Family: Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf Family)
Native to: Northern & Central CA in western Sierra foothills; moist meadows, grasslands, slopes,
roadbanks, woodlands below 7,500 ft.
annual wildflower
mature height: < 1 ft.
mature width: 1-2 ft.
Small annual wildflower with bright green, mounded to trailing foliage. Leaves are small, hairy &
lobed. Very neat looking plant – sweet and old-fashioned looking.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms spring to summer. Long bloom period with summer water.
Many flowers
that are white with characteristic purple spots on the edges of the five petals (hence the common
name Five-spot).
Some natural variation in color is available in cultivars: ‘Chelsea Blue’ has lilacblue flowers while ‘Violetta’ has violet/magenta flowers.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Beloved annual wildflower for cultivated beds, along walkways and beneath
trees. Looks great in a meadow with other low wildflowers & native grasses. Pretty in pots.
to grow – good for children’s garden. Just an all-round nice annual for the garden.
Easy
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Nemophila, pansies.
Attracts: Excellent plant to attract native pollinators like bumblebees, butterflies & others.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Part-shade; full sun only if soil can be kept moist.
Any from sandy to clay; any pH including slightly acid to slightly alkali
Likes regular water (Zone 2-3 to 3) until flowering is complete. Then withhold water
for good seed set.
None needed, but won’t kill it.
Gravel mulch
Management:
Very easy to grow in light to partial shade. Reseeds well.
Propagation: from seed: easy; no treatments (if low germination, try short cold treatment).
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 5, 8, 10, 13, 16
1/27/11
* CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. county
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