Growing Robe Series Nierembergia Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Nierembergia scoparia
- Other Names: Purple Robe, Cupflower
- Seed Type: Annual
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Robe Series nierembergia is easy to grow from seed and may be sown directly 1 – 2 weeks before the final frost or, for earliest blooming, start indoors 6 – 8 weeks prior. Germination occurs in 15 – 30 days with full lighting, then transplant to larger container once there are two sets of true leaves and harden off before transplanting outdoors.
- Days to Maturity: 63 – 84 days
- Hardiness Zone: 6 – 10
- Planting Depth: Lightly press and cover 2 – 3 seeds
- Plant Spacing: 6 – 9”
- Growth Habit: 4 – 9” tall dwarfed mounding shrub with a 12” spread covered in 1” blooms
- Soil Preference: Moist, organically-rich, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun – Partial shade
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Avoid overhead watering to minimize wetting foliage as Robe Series nierembergia seeds are susceptible to fungal and leaf diseases if not properly ventilated. Plants will benefit from shade and deadheading as they decline in mid-summer into the fall. Nierembergia has no serious pests, but monitor regularly for slugs and snails. Robe Series belongs to the Solanaceae family and is therefore susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus.
- Color: Award-winning choices Purple and White
Robe Series nierembergia is easy to grow from seed and may be sown directly outdoors 1 – 2 weeks before the final frost or, for earliest blooms, start indoors 6 – 8 weeks prior. Germination occurs in 15 – 30 days with full lighting, then transplant to larger container once there are two sets of true leaves and harden off before transplanting outdoors. Lightly press and cover 2 – 3 Robe Series nierembergia seeds in moist, organically-rich, and well-drained soil 6 – 9” apart in full sun. Avoid overhead watering to minimize wetting foliage as Robe Series nierembergia seeds are susceptible to fungal and leaf diseases if not properly ventilated. Plants will benefit from shade and deadheading as they decline in mid-summer into the fall. Nierembergia has no serious pests or diseases. Robe Series nierembergia seeds mature in as quickly as 63 – 84 days as 4 – 9” tall dwarfed mounding shrubs with a 12” spread covered in 1” blooms in award-winning choices Purple and White.
Nierembergia scoparia, or the Purple Robe, debuted in 1942 as an All-American Selections (AAS) Flower Winner for its ease at growing from seed. The genus Nierembergia honors 17th century Spanish Jesuit author and professor of natural history Juan Eusebio Nieremberg. The species scoparia translates from Latin as meaning “broom-like”.