Nemesia 'Wisley Vanilla'

'Wisley Vanilla' is a beloved Nemesia cultivar in the UK, prized primarily for its incredible, heady scent that strongly resembles vanilla. The flowers are relatively small but produced in such abundance that they create a cloud of white with small yellow eyes. It has a tidy, bushy habit, rarely exceeding 30cm, which makes it an ideal choice for hanging baskets, window boxes, or the edge of a raised bed where its fragrance can be appreciated at nose-level. While technically a tender perennial, it is almost universally grown as a half-hardy annual in the UK. It prefers cooler summer conditions and can sometimes take a break during very hot spells, but it will bounce back quickly once temperatures drop. It needs plenty of water but good drainage to prevent rot. Regular trimming after the first flush of flowers will encourage a second, equally profuse display later in the season.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, neutral to acidic soil.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.