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Grassveld Lionface (Nemesia fruticans), whole plant
  • Grassveld Lionface — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Grassveld Lionface — seasonal appearance
  • Grassveld Lionface in a garden setting

Grassveld Lionface

Nemesia fruticans

Medium · Some experience

About Grassveld Lionface

Shrubby Nemesia is a South African tender perennial producing spikes of blue-and-white two-lipped flowers on upright stems, more heat-tolerant than other nemesia species. Growing 8 to 16 inches tall in bushy form, it blooms from spring into summer with good fragrance and pollinator appeal. 'Blue Bird' and 'Compact Innocence' are leading cultivars for American cool-season container gardens.

  • Fragrant
  • Container-friendly
  • Long-blooming
  • Pollinator-friendly
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to 10°F (-12°C)
USDA hardiness zones 8–10

How to care for Grassveld Lionface

Watering

  • Springevery 3 days
  • Summerevery 3 days
  • Fallevery 5 days
  • Winterevery 7 days

Soil · Well-draining

  • Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
  • Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
  • DrainageLECA / gravel20%

Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 14 days
  • Summerevery 21 days
  • Fallevery 21 days
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At a Glance

  • NativeAfrica
  • Height0.5–1.5 ft (0.2–0.5 m)
  • Spread1–1.5 ft (0.3–0.5 m)
  • Flower colorBlue, Purple, Pink, White
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
  • LocationsBalcony · Yard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

Mar–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Blue-white two-lipped flowers spring to early summer

Fragrance

MODERATE FRAGRANCE

Sweet vanilla or fruity scent.

Toxicity

Toxicity unknown

None reported

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for humans is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for dogs is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for cats is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Grassveld Lionface · Native
  • Native
  • Introduced
  • Africa

History

Illustrated historical scene for Grassveld Lionface

Nemesia fruticans, the shrubby nemesia, is a short-lived evergreen subshrub native to damp mountain habitats in South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, often within reach of winter snowfall. Austrian botanist Eduard Fenzl described the species in 1839. Unlike the well-known annual Nemesia strumosa, N. fruticans tolerates milder winters and blooms over a much longer season, making it a key parent of modern perennial nemesia hybrids.

British and Dutch breeders selected compact free-flowering cultivars such as Blue Bird and Innocence in the 1990s, and Proven Winners, Danziger, and Ball FloraPlant subsequently introduced the Sunsatia, Aromatica, Escential, Nesia, and Juicy Fruits series. The flowers often bear a distinct fruity or vanilla scent, and the plants excel as cool-season container and border subjects across temperate climates.

Native to South African mountains, introduced to American ornamental horticulture in the late 1990s. Syngenta's Sunsatia series and Proven Winners' Aromatica series brought it into every American garden center as a modern cool-season bedding standard.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Grassveld Lionface makes visible cool serenity, its classic blue blooms a defining color of South African spring containers. Delicate but resilient, it offers serene grace to early-season gardens while withstanding the chill of cool nights. This is a flower for the gardener who values quiet over flash — a plant whose blue spikes soften the harder edges of late winter and ease the season gently into spring.

  • Cool blue — classic blue spring container color
  • Serene grace — delicate but resilient spring bloomer

Where the Name Comes From

The name Grassveld Lionface describes its grasslike foliage. 'fruticans' from Latin means shrubby, for the bushier growth habit compared to annual nemesia species.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Sweet vanilla-fruity flowers scent warm containers and sunny borders
  • Grassveld Lionface flowers nourish foraging bees and pollinators
  • Compact flowering mounds bring soft color to balcony boxes and sunny pots

Related plants

More Nemesia plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Grassveld Lionface?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 7 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Grassveld Lionface need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Grassveld Lionface toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Unknown (Dogs Unknown · Cats Unknown) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Grassveld Lionface easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Grassveld Lionface bloom?

It typically blooms Mar–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.

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