How to Grow Diascia Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Twinspur

Plants of the Diascia family are low growing half hardy annuals or half hardy perennials.

They bloom in the summer with pink flowers atop 25 cm long stems and their size makes them ideal for in rock gardens or for use in a border.

One of the common names for Diascia is Twinspur.

Diascia integerrima
Diascia integerrima by Anniesannuals.

Diasca
Diasca by Dryfish.

Diascia Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Twinspur.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual. Half hardy perennial.
Height: 10 to 15 inches (25 to 45 cm); Diascia personata may reach heights of 48 inches (120cm).
Native: Southern Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 2 to 10.
Flowers: Summer.
Flower Details: Pink, apricot, red, lilac, white. Two spurs on the back of the flower. Loose racemes.
Foliage: Herbaceous. Evergreen.
Sow Outside: Cover seeds. First half of spring. Spacing: 5 to 16 inches (12 to 40 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: two to four weeks. Temperature 60°F (15°C). Eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Humus rich. Regular watering. Pinch tips. Rock chip mulch. Feed perennials twice per annum. Propagate: stem cuttings in spring.
Family:
Closely Related Species:
Miscellaneous: Flowers contain oil glands that are attractive to bees of the Rediviva genus.

How to grow Diascia

Diascia seeds should be sown outdoors after the last frost of spring. Once sown the seed should be lightly covered. Diascia prefers to grow in a sunny area of the garden that has good drainage. They should be sown at about 15 cm to 30 cm apart, depending on whether it is a spreading species or not. Twinspur should ideally be grown in a soil that is rich in humus.

If you prefer to grow Twinspur indoors first, then the process should take place about 7 weeks before the plants are transplanted back into the garden following the final frost of spring. Diascia species take about two to four weeks to germinate at at temperature of 15 degrees centigrade.

Caring for Twinspur in the Garden

Once Twinspur is established in the garden the tips of the young plants should be pinched; this will encourage bushy growth. Cutting back following flowering will encourage further blooming of Diascia plants.