Diascia spp.

Twinspur

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 7–9

Overview

Diascia spp. is a genus of about 70 species of annuals and low perennials in the figwort family, native to southern Africa, chiefly South Africa. Garden plants form low, spreading mounds 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall and wider, with slender, trailing or upright stems and small, toothed, bright green leaves. The flowers are flat-faced and shell-pink to coral, apricot, or white, each with two slender, backward-pointing spurs that hold oil rather than nectar; in the wild, oil-collecting bees gather it to provision their nests. Bloom is heavy from late spring through autumn, especially where summers are cool. Many garden plants are hybrids selected for compact habit and long flowering. The genus grows in full sun to light shade on moist but free-draining soil and flowers most freely in mild conditions, slowing or stopping in hot, dry spells before reviving as temperatures fall. Most kinds are frost-tender and are grown as annuals or container plants in cold-winter regions, though some montane species are hardier. Trimming after each flush renews the bloom. Plants reach flowering size within a few months of sowing or cuttings.

Native Range

Native to southern Africa, mainly South Africa, where species grow in grassland, on rocky slopes, and in moist mountain sites.

Suggested Uses

Grown in containers, hanging baskets, edges, and the front of sunny borders for long, pink to coral flowering. Suited to cool-summer climates and mixed seasonal plantings. Plants are not durable through hard frost or prolonged hot, dry spells.

How to Identify

Recognized by low, spreading mounds of small, toothed green leaves and loose spikes of flat, pink to coral flowers. Each flower has two slender spurs curving backward and down from the base. The trailing stems root where they touch moist soil.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 1'8"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering runs from late spring through autumn, heaviest in the cooler parts of the season. In hot midsummer the display thins, then rebuilds as temperatures fall. A light trim after each flush brings on fresh bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

shell-pink, coral, apricot, or white

Foliage Description

bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to light shade on moist, free-draining soil enriched with organic matter. They are set out after frost, spaced 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) apart, and kept evenly watered, as drought stress stops flowering. Cool summers suit them better than hot, humid ones. In cold-winter regions they are grown as annuals or lifted into containers under glass, since most are frost-tender. Shearing the plants back by a third after the first heavy flush renews growth and bloom. A light feed during the growing season sustains continued flowering.

Pruning

Plants are sheared back by about a third after each main flush to remove spent flowers and bring on new shoots. This keeps the mound compact and the bloom continuous. Leggy or tired stems are cut harder in midsummer to rejuvenate the plant.