Fivespot
(Nemophila maculata)
Fivespot (Nemophila maculata)
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Garth Harwood
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Garth Harwood
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Garth Harwood | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Garth Harwood | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2019-04-07T08:23:41-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Nemophila maculata, commonly known as Fivespot, is an annual herb that is native to the open woodlands and forest edges of California. It is particularly adapted to the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges. This plant typically grows to a modest height of 6-12 inches (15-30 centimeters) with a similar spread. Fivespot is celebrated for its charming springtime display of white flowers, each with distinctive purple spots at the tips of the lobes, which inspire its common name. The corolla spans 1 to 2 centimeters in length and can be up to 5 centimeters wide. The flowers are highly attractive to solitary bees, which are the primary pollinators. Both male and female bees feed on the nectar, while females also collect pollen to nourish their larvae.
Fivespot is valued for its ease of growth and the beauty it adds to gardens, particularly in native plant and pollinator-friendly settings. It thrives in loose, evenly moist, well-drained soils, and while it can grow in full sun to part shade, it prefers cooler conditions found in part shade environments. The plant is known for its ability to self-seed under optimal conditions, ensuring a continual presence in the garden. It is often used for border planting, ground cover, and adding splashes of color to wildflower meadows. Gardeners should be aware that while Fivespot is generally low-maintenance, it can suffer from fungal diseases in overly wet conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Fivespot is valued for its ease of growth and the beauty it adds to gardens, particularly in native plant and pollinator-friendly settings. It thrives in loose, evenly moist, well-drained soils, and while it can grow in full sun to part shade, it prefers cooler conditions found in part shade environments. The plant is known for its ability to self-seed under optimal conditions, ensuring a continual presence in the garden. It is often used for border planting, ground cover, and adding splashes of color to wildflower meadows. Gardeners should be aware that while Fivespot is generally low-maintenance, it can suffer from fungal diseases in overly wet conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-1 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: White, Blue
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention:
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Groundcover, Potted Plant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands and forest edges of California, particularly in the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges
Other Names
Common Names: Gefleckte Hainblume
Scientific Names: , Nemophila maculata, Nemophila maculata var. concolor, Nemophila speciosa, Viticella maculata,
GBIF Accepted Name: Nemophila maculata Benth. ex Lindl.