Diascia 'Coral' Condensed Version:

These delightfull little gems are renowned for their abundance of flowers throughout summer. The dainty flowers on thin stems seem too fragile to survive their harsh growing conditions in the wild, but their delicate appearance belies their hardiness. The varieties of Twinspurs available at garden centres today are mainly new hybrids that have been bred to be even more floriferous, with many exciting new pastel and vivid shades of pink, white, red, lavender, mauve, deep plum, bright orange and even apricot and tangerine. Some varieties will spill over pots and others tend to grow more upright. Combined with Fairy Bells (Dierama); Geraniums; Red-hot poker, Vuurpyl (Kniphofia); and Bacopa (Sutera); they put on a magnificent show; and all these are available from garden centres. They are wonderful for mass plantings, with some varieties making excellent groundcovers. Try planting them into little pockets between other plants in the garden or alongside garden paths, as well as in rose and herb gardens. They are also very rewarding mixed with other plants in hanging baskets and containers.

Twinspurs thrive in full sun or light shade and will grow in any well-drained soil.  (Diascia integerrima) is one of the most widespread, toughest and floriferous of the all the species. It is tolerant of dry conditions and resents 'wet feet'; but responds well if watered moderately during dry spells. It is also tolerant of cold temperatures and heavy frost. The plants go semi-dormant in winter and by the end of summer they will start to look straggly, so cut them right back and mulch the soil for winter; in the spring new growth will soon emerge.

Diascia 'Diamonte Lavender'Full Version:

Description, History & Interesting Facts:

These delightfully delicate little gems belong to the snapdragon family and there are about 70 species, all of which occur only in southern Africa. Diascia species can be annual or perennial, with most of the perennials occurring in the summer rainfall regions, and the annuals in the winter rainfall regions. They can be found rooting firmly in gritty soil and rocky crevices throughout the mountainous areas of the summer rainfall regions, with the southern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg being particularly rich in perennial species like (Diascia integerrima.) They are also found in the north-eastern and eastern Free State and Lesotho. About 50 species are found in the winter rainfall area of the Western Cape and Namaqualand, and these are mostly annuals.

Twinspurs are immensely popular throughout the world and are renowned for their abundance of flowers throughout summer. The dainty flowers on thin stems seem too fragile to survive their harsh growing conditions in the wild, but their delicate appearance belies their hardiness. The varieties of Diascia available at garden centres today are mainly new hybrids that have been bred to be even more floriferous, with many exciting new pastel and vivid shades of pink, white, red, lavender, mauve, deep plum, vivid orange and even apricot and tangerine. Some varieties will spill over pots and others tend to grow more upright. The common name 'Twinspurs' refers to the two long horns or spurs at the back of the flower. The pollination of these plants in the wild is accomplished by special oil collecting bees which have modified forelegs with which they collect oil from inside the two spurs. Once pollinated, little black seeds will form in capsules, splitting open when ripe to disperse the seed.

Diascia 'Whisper'Apricot'In the Garden:

In the wild they can be found flowering on high mountain slopes together with dierama, geraniums, kniphofias and sutera, putting on a magnificent show; and all these are available from garden centres, so why not combine them in your garden for a delightful display. These little gems are also perfect for mass plantings, putting on a brilliant show if planted in large sweeps in the garden; with some varieties making excellent groundcovers. They are pretty to fill little pockets between other plants in the garden or alongside garden paths, as well as in rose and herb gardens. Try them in hanging baskets and containers, planted singly or mixed with other plants. If planted in containers feed them monthly and cut off the old flower stems, trimming back the whole plant occasionally will encourage new growth. These little gems will also attract butterflies to your garden.

Cultivation:

The species vary slightly in height, growing +-25 to 40cm tall, and the spacing of your plants will be dependent on whether you are planting a spreading species or not, but generally you can plant them +15 to 30cm apart. Twinspurs thrive in full sun or light shade and will grow in any well-drained soil (limy, neutral or acid); and will benefit from the addition of some compost. (Diascia integerrima) is perennial and one of the most widespread, toughest and floriferous of the all the species. It is tolerant of dry conditions but responds well in the garden if watered regularly, but never over-water, as it resents 'wet feet'. It is also tolerant of cold temperatures and heavy frost. The plants go semi-dormant in winter and by the end of summer they will start to look Diascia' Wink Pink'straggly, so cut them right back and mulch the soil for winter; in the spring new growth will soon emerge. New plants can be planted each season or two, and often perform better than those left to overwinter.

Propagation:

Twinspurs are easy to propagate and cuttings strike extremely well if taken in early spring, from softwood or semi-ripe stems +-6cm long. If they are treated with a hormone powder and are kept in a mist unit with bottom heat, the cuttings should root within two weeks. Young shoots with roots, taken from the base of the plant, also grow readily. Diascia species are self-incompatible and therefore do not set seed easily in the garden. Viable seed is available at garden centres and is best sown in spring after the last frost. Cover the seeds very lightly with soil and water regularly until germination.

Pests & Diseases:

Twinspurs are disease-free and flower prolifically without any pampering. Apart from slugs and snails, they shouldn't suffer any problems.