If you are looking for a maintenance free flower that can tolerate almost any climate with a long blooming season, you will love Nierembergia White Robe.

Also known as Cupflowerhttp://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm, Nierembergia White Robe is a small, mounding plant with small, one inch white flowershttp://home.howstuffworks.com/define-nierembergia-cup-flower.htm, native to Argentinahttp://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm. It grows as a perennial in zones 7-10, as an annual in zone 3-6, does well in high heat and drought climates, and is very tolerant of frost and cold climateshttp://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/flowerseed/nierembergiaa/whiterobe?veseys=hbubm0245ql5iqn6o8t60lcuf2M. Also, Nierembergia likes average soil so no special soil preparations are needed.

Nierembergia has almost no pest or insect problemshttp://www.greenlifegardening.com/annuals/nierembergia-white-robe.html, is not invasivehttp://www.greenlifegardening.com/annuals/nierembergia-white-robe.html, and requires no maintenance except for being watered. Perfect for maintenance free gardens or for someone that doesn't have much time for taking care of plants.

Nierembergia will grow to be approximately 12 inches wide and 6 inches tall and will bloom from early summer to early fallhttp://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plants/nierembergia/nierembergia_0873.php.

Nierembergia is perfect for edging, borders, rock gardens, and container gardening due to its compact, uniform size, and because of the long bloom times. They can also be used to fill an empty spot in the flower bed or container garden!

Step 1: Planting the Seeds: Since these plants grow slowly, it's best to start them indoors and then transplant them to the garden when they are approximately 10 weeks old.

1. Plant the seeds in a good potting soil mix and cover with just enough soil to cover the seeds.
2. Lightly water the seeds after covering them. Just make sure the seeds don't flood away.
3. Keep the seeds at 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit to help the seeds grow. If needed, a heat lamp or plant light can be used to achieve the proper temperature.
4. The seeds should start to germinate in 14-30 days. http://www.tmseeds.com/product/Nierembergia_hippomanica_seeds_Robe_Mixed
5. Once the plants are a few weeks old, take the seedlings outside for an hour and increase the time outside until the plants are around 10 weeks old or until the final frost has passedhttp://www.tmseeds.com/product/Nierembergia_hippomanica_seeds_Robe_Mixed.
6. After the final frost, the seedlings can be transplanted to the flower garden.

Nierembergia can be planted almost anywhere, including:

• as a natural border for a flower garden
• as a natural border for a walkway or driveway
• in hanging baskets or window boxes
• in rock gardens
• as ground cover

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm

Once the seedlings are old enough, they can be transplanted to the flower garden.

1. No soil preparations are required because Nierembergia can grow in any ordinary soil as long as it drains well.
2. After the final frost of the season, loosen up the soil in the flower garden with a shovel. Be sure to go deep enough so the roots have enough room to spread out.
3. Place your Nierembergia plants where you want them to be. If you started them in peat pots, you can plant the entire pot into the ground. Otherwise, remove the plant from the container and, if necessary, separate the roots with your hand.
4. Plant the seedlings about 6-12 inches aparthttp://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm.
5. Give the plants some water after you fill in around them with soil.
6. A normal liquid flower fertilizer can be used monthly to keep the plant healthy and happy. Alternately, a water soluble, time release fertilizer can be usedhttp://www.agreengardening.com/plants/nierembergia.asp.

Although they do better with moist soil, Nierembergia is heat and drought tolerant and will stay alive in dry areashttp://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm.

Be sure to deadhead (remove all dead blossoms) to make way for new blooms.

If you live in a warm climate, Nierembergia should come back without replanting. If you live in a cool climate, the plant will probably only survive one year and will need to be replanted the next yearhttp://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plants/nierembergia/nierembergia_0873.php, unless brought inside for the winter.

Seeds should be harvested after they have been given a chance to dry on the plant.

Nierembergia is not prone to pest problems. If a pest does appear, use an organic pesticide or home made soap spray to take care of the problem.

Mulch can be placed around the base of the plant to help keep the moisture in the soil and to keep the soil coolhttp://hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm.

Sun is not a problem for Nierembergia, so finding a shady space to plant them is not required. In fact, Nierembergia like full sun. The flowers of the plant also hold up well in the sun and heathttp://hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/nierembergia/nierembergia.htm.