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ROC #343460

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Five Spot

Nemophila maculata

Five Spot

Each delicate white petal is tipped with a distinctive purple spot, creating an enchanting pattern in spring gardens.

A cool-season annual in USDA zones 9-11; fall-sown for spring bloom in the low desert, it is short-lived once heat sets in and best where afternoons are milder.

AMWUA Notes

A moderate-water cool-season annual for a delicate spring accent; happiest in the milder part of the low-desert season.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water every 1-2 weeks through the cool season; this delicate annual prefers steady moisture and cooler conditions and fades quickly in heat and drought.

✂️Pruning

None; simply enjoy the spring bloom and let plants dry and reseed before removing them.

🌱Fertilizing

None needed in reasonable soil.

🛡️Pests

Watch for aphids and, in shaded or crowded plantings, slugs on the tender foliage.

☀️Seasonal Notes

A cool-season annual best sown in fall; it blooms in spring and is short-lived once heat arrives, reseeding where conditions suit it.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Average to lean, well-drained soils; prefers cooler, evenly moist conditions and a bit of afternoon relief.

💧Drainage

Needs well-drained soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Seed; sow in fall (cool-season) and let it reseed where conditions suit it.

📐Spacing

1 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Minimal; a delicate shallow-rooted annual that fades in heat and reseeds in favorable pockets.

Placement Tips

  • •Use at the front of a bed or in a container where the spotted flowers can be seen up close.
  • •Sow in fall in a spot with a bit of afternoon relief, as it dislikes extreme heat.
  • •Combine with other cool-season annuals for a low, charming spring tapestry.
  • •Let it reseed in favorable pockets for a return show.

Features

White petals with purple spotsSow in fallCharming patternSpring bloomer

Best Uses

Wildflower meadowBorder plantingCottage garden

Ecological Value

Attracts

beesbutterflies

Companion Plants

Quick Stats

Water NeedsModerate
Sun Exposurepartial shade
Mature Size2 ft H × 1 ft W
Growth Ratemoderate
Maintenancelow
HardinessUSDA 9-11
FoliageDeciduous
Drainagewell-drained
Bloom SeasonSpring
Bloom ColorWhite with purple spots
Litter Levellow
ThornsNone
Native RegionCalifornia

Design Styles

mediterraneanpollinator garden

Include in Your Project

Love Five Spot? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.

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Use this care guide to maintain your Five Spot. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.

Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.

Five Spot — common questions

Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.

How much water does Five Spot need in Phoenix?

Five Spot is a moderate-water annual once established. Water every 1-2 weeks through the cool season; this delicate annual prefers steady moisture and cooler conditions and fades quickly in heat and drought. A moderate-water cool-season annual for a delicate spring accent; happiest in the milder part of the low-desert season.

How big does Five Spot get?

Expect roughly 2 ft tall and 1 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 1 ft of spacing when planting. Minimal; a delicate shallow-rooted annual that fades in heat and reseeds in favorable pockets.

Can you plant Five Spot near a pool?

Yes. Five Spot is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.

Can Five Spot handle Arizona heat and winter frost?

Five Spot is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants partial shade. A cool-season annual in USDA zones 9-11; fall-sown for spring bloom in the low desert, it is short-lived once heat sets in and best where afternoons are milder. A cool-season annual best sown in fall; it blooms in spring and is short-lived once heat arrives, reseeding where conditions suit it.

Does Five Spot have thorns?

No. Five Spot is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.

Is Five Spot safe around pets?

Five Spot is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.

When does Five Spot bloom in Arizona?

Five Spot blooms in spring, with white with purple spots flowers. The bloom draws bees, butterflies.

How much maintenance does Five Spot need?

Five Spot is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. None; simply enjoy the spring bloom and let plants dry and reseed before removing them.

What kind of soil does Five Spot need?

Average to lean, well-drained soils; prefers cooler, evenly moist conditions and a bit of afternoon relief. Nutrient needs are low. None needed in reasonable soil.

Is Five Spot native to Arizona?

No. Five Spot is not an Arizona native; it originates from the California, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.