Nemophila maculata, Five Spot seed
Five Spot is a charming and delicate-looking cool-season annual native to California, particularly the Sierra Nevada foothills. This low-growing wildflower is best known for its distinctive, bowl-shaped white petals marked with purple or blue spots at each tip—hence the name “Five Spot.” It is a standout in wildflower meadows, containers, and hanging baskets, as well as in shaded garden borders.
Five Spot prefers cooler climates and thrives in full sun to partial shade, depending on your location. In cool coastal or northern climates, it can tolerate more direct sun, while in warmer regions, it performs best with afternoon or dappled shade. Planting it on the north or east side of a building provides ideal light conditions in hotter zones. Avoid intense midday sun, which can stress the plant and reduce blooming.
This flower grows best in cool, moist, well-drained soils that are not overly rich in nutrients. Overly fertile soil may promote excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Although moderately drought-tolerant once established, Five Spot does best with consistent moisture during its growing season.
In USDA Zones 7–13, Five Spot should be fall-planted to take advantage of mild winters and early spring rains. In colder climates (Zones 6 and below), sow in early spring after the danger of hard frost has passed, or start indoors in a greenhouse for earlier blooms.
It typically blooms from early spring through late May, especially in regions with wet winters and cool springs, like Oregon and northern California. Plants grow in dense, low mounds, making them excellent for ground cover, rock gardens, or naturalized plantings alongside other wildflowers.
Covers 5 square feet.
How to Use Your Cover Crop & Native Seed Packets
Each seed packet is measured to cover 25 sq ft or 100 sq ft, depending on the size you chose.
Sowing Instructions
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When to sow: Fall is ideal in Portland. The soil is still warm for germination, and fall rains keep seedlings watered. Some seeds (like meadowfoam or clovers) can also be spring-sown.
How to sow:
- Rake the soil lightly to create good seed-to-soil contact.
- Scatter the contents of the packet evenly over the area (don’t worry about perfect spacing).
- Gently press or rake seeds in so they make contact with the soil. Do not bury deeply — most native and cover crop seeds need light to germinate.
- Water: Fall rains usually do the job, but water lightly if the weather turns dry.
What to Expect
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Traditional Cover Crops (rye, peas, fava, daikon, crimson clover, buckwheat, mustard): Grow quickly, protect soil, and build fertility. In spring, chop them down or mow before they set seed. Some (like rye) can also be crimped into a mulch.
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Living Mulches (red fescue, dwarf yarrow, creeping thyme, low clovers): These stay low and provide long-term weed suppression and ground cover. Shear lightly as needed, but they don’t require replanting every year.
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Pollinator Wildflowers (Clarkia, poppy, gilia, flax, meadowfoam, coneflower, blanketflower): Not classic cover crops, but they add beauty and attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Many reseed naturally.
Spring & Summer Management
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Chop-and-drop: Cut plants at the base and leave them as mulch (peas, fava, clovers).
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Mow: Use on ryegrass or cereals to turn them into quick mulch.
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Crimp: Flatten tall rye or grains at flowering to create a long-lasting weed barrier.
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Shear perennials: Yarrow, thyme, and sedges can be trimmed back after bloom.
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Self-seeders: Flowers like poppy, clarkia, and meadowfoam will often reseed themselves. Leave some seed heads if you want them back next year.
Quick Tips
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Cover crops = soil builders.
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Living mulches = weed suppressors.
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Wildflowers = pollinator magnets.
Tulle or row cover can protect young seedlings from birds and slugs until established.
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