Nemesia flowers are bright, cheerful, and lovely to look at. Despite their tropical origins, several annual varieties have been cultivated for growing in gardens in more temperate areas, and they have become popular choices for colorful garden ground cover and container gardening alike. With a pleasant symbolic nature to go with their joyful appearance, you can’t go wrong when growing nemesia. This guide will run you through everything you need to know about nemesia meaning, symbolism, and cultural significance in the language of flowers.
The Symbolic Meaning of Nemesia Flowers – The Essentials
In the language of flowers, Nemesia carries the symbolic meaning of friendship. However, the name, Nemesia, is also associated with retribution and the administration of justice. As a result, nemesia flowers can also be associated with themes of justice.
About Nemesia Flowers
Taxonomy
Nemesia is a genus containing 69 accepted species of flowering annual and perennial subshrubs. The genus belongs to the Scrophulariaceae (figwort) plant family within the Lamiales order.
Botanical Characteristics
Nemesia plants are small, shrub-like plants that produce clumps of foliage close to the ground. The leaves are lance-shaped and can be either toothed or smooth. Most shrubs reach about 1 foot in height, but some can grow to be 2 feet tall.
When in bloom, the funnel-shaped blossoms have a mounding habit. When the temperature is right, the flowers bloom so abundantly that they almost completely obscure the foliage with their bright colors.
Nemesia flowers are oddly shaped, with some resembling lobelia blooms, others appearing more similar to snapdragon blossoms, and some resembling orchids.
They typically feature two lips: one upper lip and one lower lip. The large lower lip generally consists of two lobes, while the upper lip is usually fan-shaped and consists of four lobes that can either be connected or separated.
The flowers bloom in various colors, including shades of white, pink, red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and bicolor, with distinct tongues of contrasting color at their centers. The variety of flower types between species, hybrids, and cultivars is quite vast.
Nemesia flowers emit a sweet and pleasant fragrance. The flowers of certain species, such as Nemesia ‘Wisely Vanilla’, feature a light scent with hints of vanilla.
History and Origins of Nemesia
With the majority of species growing naturally in South Africa, all species of nemesia plants are native to the southern tropical parts of Africa, including:
- Botswana
- Cape Provinces
- Free State
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Lesotho
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
- Swaziland, Zimbabwe
Several species of nemesia have also been introduced to Great Britain and now grow naturally throughout the United Kingdom.
Etymological Meaning
The genus name Nemesia is said to come from the Greek word “nemesion” which is the name of a similar plant.
Uses and Benefits of Nemesia
Nemesia, along with its several hybrids and cultivars, is primarily used as an ornamental plant. In gardening, nemesia can be used to fill out rock gardens and walls as well as borders. The small shrubs also do well planted in containers or hanging baskets. Their sprays of cheerful blossoms also make an excellent addition to floral bouquets as cut flowers.
Nemesia flowers also attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with their attractive and fragrant flower blossoms.
The Meaning, Symbolism, and Cultural Significance of Nemesia Flowers
The Symbolic Meaning of Nemesia
Although they were not included in The Victorian Language of Flowers, nemesia flowers have become a modern symbol of friendship.
Common Nemesia Flower Colors and Their Meanings
In the language of flowers, colors are assigned special symbolic significance. As is the case with all kinds of flowers, the color of nemesia flowers you select have different symbolic meanings thanks to their various hues. These colors and meanings include:
- White – In the language of flowers, white flowers are symbols of purity and innocence. White flowers also represent sympathy, mourning, and loss.
- Pink – In flowers, pink symbolizes femininity and gentleness in addition to gentle affection, admiration, and happiness. Deeper shades of pink can symbolize gratitude.
- Red – Red is traditionally the color that symbolizes romantic love and romance. Typically, the deeper the shade of red, the deeper one’s feelings are for the recipient of the flowers.
- Orange – The symbolic meaning of orange flowers mirrors the way the color orange usually makes someone feel – full of excitement and energy. As a result, orange flowers represent passion, vitality, enthusiasm, positivity, joy, and energy.
- Yellow – In flowers, yellow is the quintessential color of friendship. So, yellow nemesia flowers double down on this symbolic meaning. Yellow can also be a symbol of happiness, cheerfulness, positivity, and optimism in flowers.
- Blue – Since blue is such an unusual color in the natural world, it often symbolizes the impossible or striving for something unattainable. In flowers, the color blue also represents love, desire, hope, and inspiration.
- Purple – The shade of purple has a significant effect on its symbolic meaning. Deep shades of purple (i.e., royal hues) symbolize nobility, wealth, success, royalty, dignity, elegance, and power. Lighter shades like lavender can symbolize calmness, peace, and honesty.
Nemesia flowers also grow in different combinations of colors. Anywhere the above-listed colors are present, so are their symbolic meanings.
Nemesia and Greek Mythology
The word nemesia is thought to have roots in the name of the mythological Greek goddess, Nemesis (also known as Rhamnousia or Rhamnusia). This goddess was known for enacting retribution when anyone succumbed to hubris or arrogance.
Although we think of a nemesis as an enemy today, in Greek mythology, Nemesis was a goddess who, in a sense, sought justice.
As a Baby’s Name
Nemesia is also a baby name. It is most commonly used as a girl’s name but has also been used as a boy’s name. It is an old Greek name that means “one who administers justice.” This meaning could likely be attributed to the Greek myth of Nemesis.
Suitable Gifting Occasions for Nemesia Flowers
Nemesia flowers are truly lovely, and any recipient would be happy to receive them in the form of seeds, a live plant, or in a bouquet of cut flowers.
Since they are a symbol of friendship, nemesia flowers make excellent gifts for anyone you consider to be your friend on just about any occasion. They’re perfect for saying thank you or celebrating birthdays, new jobs, new homes, or new babies. In yellow, they send cheerful “get well” sentiments.
They are also appropriate flowers to include in a sympathy gift for a friend – just be sure to select white nemesia blossoms in these instances.
Nemesia Flowers FAQs:
What Do Nemesia Flowers Symbolize?
Nemesia flowers symbolize friendship.
Do Nemesia Flowers Symbolize Love?
Nemesia flowers do not symbolize romantic love, but they are a symbol of friendship. In this way, they could be considered a symbol of the type of platonic love that exists between friends.
Do Nemesia Flowers Come Back Every Year?
The Nemesia genus contains both annual and perennial species. The perennial varieties rebloom yearly, and the annual varieties only bloom once. Annual varieties, however, are self-seeding. If the seeds are allowed to germinate, new plants will grow and bloom in place of the old plants.
How Long Do Nemesia Flowers Last?
The blooming period of nemesia flowers depends on the climate. In areas with mild summers, they bloom from spring through fall. In hotter areas, they bloom in early spring until the heat of summer and do not resume until temperatures cool down in fall. In frost-free areas, they can bloom throughout winter.
Are Nemesia Flowers Toxic?
Nemesia is not toxic to humans or animals.
Nemesia Flower Meaning – The Final Word
All in all, nemesia flowers can be considered friendly all around. They’re easy to care for, fun to look at, and will brighten any garden. Given as gifts to all your friends, you can strengthen your bonds and reaffirm your friendly affection for everyone special in your life.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
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