1 named cultivar

‘Fivespot’Fivespot

annualN. America Native

Five Spot

The Story

Plant Bio

Nemophila maculata, or five spot, is a cool-weather annual native to the grasslands and woodlands of California, growing six to twelve inches high and as wide. It makes a low branching mound of divided leaves, above which upward-facing cup-shaped flowers open from April to June: white, nearly two inches across, each of the five petals tipped with a single purple blotch.

The five purple blotches are unusually precise for a wildflower and give the plant its whole character, but the display is short: it declines sharply once heat and humidity arrive, so it is a spring plant rather than a summer one. Sow it in autumn where winters are mild, which gives markedly longer flowering than a spring sowing.

Uses & Benefits:

Large white cups each marked with five precise purple blotches, over a neat low mound.

Cheap and fast from a direct sowing, filling spring gaps before summer bedding takes over.

A California native whose open cup flowers are easily worked by early-season native bees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Annual

Height

6 inches

Width

12 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Annual

Native To

California

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Sow direct in autumn in mild areas, or very early spring elsewhere.
Choose loose, acidic, fertile, organically rich soil.
Site in full sun, with part afternoon shade where summers are hot.
Keep the soil evenly moist while plants grow.
Thin seedlings to about six inches apart.
Pull plants once summer heat ends the display.

Pro Tip

Autumn sowing in mild-winter areas roughly doubles the flowering season compared with sowing in spring.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Sow direct rather than transplanting 🌱
Keep the soil evenly moist 💧
Give part afternoon shade in warm regions 🌤️
Mass it in drifts for the best effect 🌸

Don't

Expect it to survive hot humid summers ❌
Let the soil dry out while flowering ❌
Sow it late and hope for a long season ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Clear
Sow

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Spring bedding and border edgingMassed drifts in a native or wildflower plantingContainer and hanging basket planting

Companion Plants

Baby Blue Eyes California Poppy Tidy Tips ClarkiaSweet Alyssum

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Five Spot questions

What zones can Five Spot grow in?

Five Spot is hardy in USDA Zones 4–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Five Spot deer resistant?

Yes — Five Spot is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Five Spot bloom?

Five Spot typically blooms in mid-spring to early summer through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Five Spot need full sun?

Five Spot does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.