Nemesia strumosa aka Cape Jewels

Nemesia strumosa is a small annual from South Africa. Its native range lies in the southwestern Cape Province. It belongs to the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. Common names include Cape jewels and pouch nemesia. Gardeners grow it for its bright flowers in cool weather. It grows fast and forms a bushy, upright plant. Several stems help give it a full shape.

Most plants reach 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.30 m) tall and wide. RHS gives a broader upper limit of 1.6 feet (0.5 m). The green leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Each leaf is simple, narrow, and shaped like a lance. Some leaves have teeth along their edges. They reach about 0.25 feet (0.08 m) in length. The leaves have no hairs, and the stems lack scent.

The flowers have a tube and two distinct lips. Four lobes form the upper lip; two form the lower. Flowers grow in racemes or singly at leaf joints. Their width is about 0.07–0.08 feet (0.02–0.025 m). Colors include yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, blue, and white. Some flowers combine two colors on the same bloom. Missouri Botanical Garden lists flowering from April to June. In mild climates, bloom can last until the first frost. Summer heat can cause plants to die back. In hot regions, spring or fall suits them better. They can also grow through winter where frost is absent.

Give this plant full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Afternoon shade helps during spells of hot weather. It prefers cool or moderate temperatures rather than summer heat. Loam or sand suits it, with an acidic to neutral pH. Water during dry spells to help keep flowers coming. Pinch the growing tips to make plants more bushy. Remove faded flowers to encourage further bloom. Sow seeds in spring at about 59°F (15°C). RHS assigns it the UK hardiness rating H3. Its broad US zone listings reflect its use as an annual.

Use it in beds, borders, rock gardens, or garden edging. It also suits pots and hanging baskets. It can serve as a short-lived houseplant. Serious pest and disease problems are not usual. Poor drainage can lead to root rot. NC State reports no medicinal or cultural uses.