Baby Blue Eyes

A charming and delicate-looking hardy annual, Nemophila menziesii is perfect for creating a soft, cool-toned carpet in the garden. It produces small, cup-shaped flowers of a clear, bright sky-blue with a white centre. The plant has a trailing or prostrate habit, rarely exceeding 15-20cm in height, making it ideal for hanging baskets, the edges of containers, or as a groundcover at the front of a border. It has attractive, deeply lobed, hairy foliage. In the UK, it is best sown directly in the garden where it is to flower, as it does not transplant well. It prefers a position in full sun but, unlike many annuals, it will also thrive and flower well in partial shade, provided the soil remains moist. It is a hardy annual (H4) and can even be sown in autumn for earlier flowers the following spring. Despite its dainty appearance, it is quite resilient. It is particularly effective when planted alongside early yellow spring flowers to provide a classic colour contrast. It provides a simple, naturalistic look.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: May, Jun, Jul, Aug.