Cupflower (Nierembergia scoparia 'Mont Blanc') is a tender perennial that thrives in zones 7-10, grown as an annual in cooler climates where it unfolds into a dense, spreading mound 6-12 inches tall. From May through frost, pale blue cup-shaped flowers blanket the foliage, creating an ethereal display that continues even in the heat of summer if given afternoon shade. This member of the Solanaceae family grows best in full sun to partial shade with moderate, consistent moisture, making it a reliable performer for gardeners seeking reliable, season-long color.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-10
12in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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Cupflower produces cup-shaped pale blue flowers roughly one inch wide that bloom continuously from early summer until the first frost, covering a shrubby mound of finely-cut, stiff linear foliage. The plant thrives in cool-summer climates and actually performs better with afternoon shade in hot regions, making it unusually adaptable to varying conditions. Genus name honors a 17th century Spanish Jesuit professor of natural history, connecting this humble garden flower to centuries of botanical study.
While botanically edible, cupflower is grown primarily as an ornamental for its prolific flowering habit and airy aesthetic rather than for culinary purposes. The dense mounding form and continuous pale blue bloom make it suited to annual bedding schemes, container plantings, and garden borders where its fine-textured foliage and delicate flowers create a cooling visual effect throughout the growing season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date in seed-starting mix, keeping soil moist and warm for germination.
Transplant seedlings into the garden 1-2 weeks after the last frost date in your area once soil has warmed and danger of frost has passed.
Direct sow seeds into the garden 1-2 weeks before the last frost date in moist, organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season to encourage continuous blooming and maintain the dense mounding form. The shrubby habit naturally branches into a full foliage mass, requiring minimal shaping unless you need to control size or rejuvenate leggy growth mid-season.
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“The genus Nierembergia honors Juan Eusebio Nieremberg, a 17th century Spanish Jesuit professor of natural history whose contributions to the study of the plant world earned him this lasting botanical tribute. Nierembergia scoparia itself represents the consolidation of plant taxonomy over centuries; the Royal Horticultural Society now recognizes this species as inclusive of what was formerly distinguished as N. frutescens, reflecting how modern botanical understanding has reshaped our classification of these delicate perennials.”