are diascia annual or perennial

What is a Diascia plant?

Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles. Diascia, sometimes called twinspur, is a delicate, frothy type of plant. Some varieties will spill over pots, and others tend to grow more upright.

How long do Diascia flowers last?

Lastly, Diascia fercaniensis is the hardiest of all diascia flowers and on top of its beautiful pink blooming that lasts until fall, returns every year on its own. Flower your garden, balcony or terrace with diascias for a landscape that is full of colors!

Can Diascia grow in full sun?

In areas with a warm summer, plants will perform best in part sun, as this keeps plants cool at the expense of just a few less blossoms than plants in full sun. Diascia may not survive the intense heat of a hot summer; these plants should be treated as cool season annuals.

How many different species of Diascia are there?

Rediviva neliana, a widespread species, collects from at least 12 species of Diascia, but in general, few different Diascia species grow together in the same locality.

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How do you take care of a Diascia plant?

Light: Grow diascia in full sun or part shade. Water: In garden beds and borders, water diascia when the top inch or so of the soil starts to dry out. Spreading a layer of mulch over the ground can help keep the roots cooler and more moist, helping the plant to last longer.

Is Diascia Hardy in UK?

Hardiness: Hardy to half-hardy. Provide overwinter protection in cold areas of the UK.

Can you take cuttings from Diascia?

The easiest way to propagate Diascia integerrima is by cuttings. Select non-flowering growth 5 to 6 cm long, semi-ripe, softwood or young shoots from the base. The best time to propagate is when the plants shoot in spring, or cuttings can be taken throughout the summer and autumn.

What flowers return yearly?

PerennialsPerennials come back every year. You only plant them once.

How do you overwinter Diascia?

Diascia. Overwintered plants often put on a better display than new plants, so if your soil is not too cold or wet in winter leave diascias in the ground where they have been growing. Cut back the top growth to 15cm and protect the roots and basal buds with a thick layer of manure or bark chippings.

Is Diascia frost hardy?

Diascia fetcaniensis: this one grows 10ins (25cm) tall and again is frost hardy. It is a creeping plant with masses of short upright spikes of salmon pink flowers, though it does come in shades of apricot, light ruby, and pink.

Should you deadhead Diascia?

While they do not require deadheading to keep up with their blossoms, diascia will benefit from a shearing back to encourage a flush of new growth. This helps to promote better flowering in the fall, especially when done just before the hottest part of the summer, and after their initial heavy bloom cycle.

Should you cut back Diascia?

Care of Twinspur Diascia Be sure to water the fertilizer in to prevent burning the roots. Trim spent flowers to produce more blooms and cut the plant back to about 4 inches (10 cm.) when blooming stops in summer heat. The plant may surprise you with another flush of blooms when the weather cools in autumn.

Is Diascia an evergreen?

Diascia are annuals or semi-evergreen perennials with beautiful spikes of flowers and gorgeous bushy foliage.

What is the most hardy perennial flower?

Best Hardy Perennial FlowersCoreopsis (full sun preferred)Black-eyed Susans (full sun preferred)Clematis (full to partial sun)Daylily (full to partial shade)Peony (full to partial sun)Dianthus (at least 6 hours of sun)Lavender (full sun, dry conditions)Phlox (full to partial sun)More items...

What is the longest blooming perennial?

20 Longest Blooming Perennial Flowers For Everlasting BeautyCatmint (Nepeta racemosa) ... Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) ... Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' (Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam') ... Geranium 'Rozanne'/ Cranesbill (Geranium 'Gerwat' Rozanne) ... Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) ... Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)More items...•

Is Lavender a perennial?

Lavender is a perennial herb in many areas - that is, perennial if it gets really good drainage. Growing in a pot is an ideal way to provide good drainage. However, if the potting mix is extremely fertile, the plant may grow leaves and stems rather than flowering.

When does diascia bloom?

Diascia repeat blooms throughout the summer, although it performs best in the cool weather of spring and fall. If your plants start to look leggy or spent, shear them back by half and they will soon start blooming all over again. Different varieties of diascia range from about 6 to 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide.

Where is the diascia native to?

It's a relative of the snapdragon and comprises about 70 different species in South Africa, where it is a native. The varieties of diascia you see popping up at garden centers have been bred rather recently. They’re coming out with new colors and better bloomers every year.

What color are Diascia leaves?

Diascia has small, oval-shaped leaves that are dark green. Its flowers are small but profuse. Flower colors include pastels, vivid oranges and reds, and deep plums. A single long top petal makes it look like the flower is sticking out its tongue.

How long does it take for diascia seeds to germinate?

It’s very important to keep the soil moist since there’s nothing insulating the seed. The seeds should germinate within two weeks.

Is Diascia a perennial or annual?

Some varieties may be hardy down to zone 7; however, Diascia generally is a short-lived, tender perennial plant that is usually grown as an annual flower . Featured Video.

Do you need to water Diascia?

Diascia needs regular water, but it doesn’t like to sit in wet soil. If growing in a container, make sure there are good drainage holes. As a general guide, water when the top 1 inch of soil or potting mix feels dry.

Can you grow diascia in a container?

Growing Diascia in Containers. Diascia is a natural for containers. You can fill an entire container with one variety or use a single diascia as your spiller in a mixed container. Diascia also makes a lovely edging plant and will elegantly flop over sidewalks and walls or throughout rock gardens. The Spruce / Kara Riley.

Where is Diascia native to?

Diascia is a genus of around 70 species of herbaceous annual and perennial flowering plants of the family Scrophulariaceae, native to southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho and neighbouring areas. The perennial species are found mainly in summer-rainfall areas such as the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg;

How tall is Diascia?

Most diascia species are short-growing, straggling plants, reaching no more than 30–45 centimetres (12–18 in) in height, although Diascia rigescens can reach 60 cm (24 in), and the rather similar D. personata (with which it is often confused) up to 120 cm (47 in) or so. Some Diascia species spread by means of stolons, while others produce multiple lax stems from a single crown. The flowers are borne in loose terminal racemes. The corolla is five-lobed, and normally pink or rose-coloured in the perennial species most commonly seen in cultivation. Dark purplish patches of oil glands may make the flowers of some species appear bicoloured.

What are the spurs on a diascia flower?

The two spurs found on the back of a Diascia flower (from which it gets the common name twinspur) contain a special oil, which is collected in the wild by at least 8 species of bees of the genus Rediviva. The bees appear to have coevolved with the plants, as the females have developed unusually long, hairy forelegs with which they collect the oil from Diascia spurs to feed their larvae (and sometimes to line their nests with). The spurs vary in average length from 5.3 millimetres (0.21 in) to as much as 13.9 mm (0.55 in), mainly between species (although those of D. capsularis can vary widely between populations); the bees' forelegs vary similarly. The spurs of Diascia longicornis are about 25 mm (0.98 in) in length, but the existence of a suitably equipped pollinator, Rediviva emdeorum, with forelegs of the same length, was only confirmed in the 1980s. Rediviva longimanus has also been observed pollinating D. longicornis in the Western Cape.

How long are the spurs of Diascia longicornis?

The spurs of Diascia longicornis are about 25 mm (0.98 in) in length, but the existence of a suitably equipped pollinator, Rediviva emdeorum, with forelegs of the same length, was only confirmed in the 1980s. Rediviva longimanus has also been observed pollinating D. longicornis in the Western Cape.

What is a diascia flower?

Diascia, a flower that deserves to be rediscovered. Diascia is a very cure flower that blooms all summer long and sometimes even longer, lasting up to fall.

How tall is Diascia Vigilis?

Diascia vigilis, the tallest of all diascias, grows 20 inches (50 cm) tall and produces cute light pink blooms. Lastly, Diascia fercaniensis is the hardiest of all diascia flowers and on top of its beautiful pink blooming that lasts until fall, returns every year on its own.

When to prepare diascia cuttings?

Preparing diascia cuttings is best done in spring or in fall. Collect cuttings about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long, ideally on stems not bearing flowers.

How tall is a sage plant?

Height – 10 to 16 inches (25 to 40 cm) Exposure – sun or part sun. Soil – rather rich. Flowering – June to September/October. Caring for these plants from planting to blooming doesn’t require much effort and their decorative effect is guaranteed.

Is Diascia fetcaniensis hardy?

Only Diascia fetcaniensis is hardy and can stay in the groung in winter. This flower offers a magnificent bloom all summer long, and will be at its best in the sun and in fertile, well drained soil. Diascias are magnificent in garden boxes or pots, and blend in well with other flowers in a flower bed.

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Twinspur

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

How to grow Diascia

Diascia seeds should be sown outdoors after the last frost of spring. Once sown the seed should be lightly covered.

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.

How to propagate Diascia?

Prick-out, pot on and harden off before planting out at the end of May, once all danger of frost is past. Can also be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings. Overwinter young plants undercover.

Is Diascia a perennial or annual?

Diascia. A pretty little short-lived perennial, that is usually grown as an annual in the UK. A very useful free flowering plant, especially when grown in full sun. Its dainty twin-spurred flowers give it its common name, twinspur. Foliage: Semi-evergreen, glossy ovate leaves.

Are Dahlias Annual or Perennials?

First, some definitions: An annual is a plant that performs its entire life cycle within a single growing season. That means the plant grows, flowers, goes to seed and dies all within a single year.

Can Dahlias be Grown as Perennials?

Here's good news for dahlia growers in warmer climate zones: Dahlias can be grown as perennials with some extra care.

Can you Leave Dahlias in the Ground Over Winter?

You can leave dahlias in the soil over winter if you live in USDA hardiness zone 10. Here, the temperatures are warm enough year-round to keep dahlias alive.

When to Plant Dahlias

Check on your dahlia tubers a few times over the winter. If tubers look shriveled, mist them lightly with water. If any dahlia tubers start to get soft or rot, cut off the affected area.

Overview

• With prolific, showy blossoms on low-mounding to sprawling plants, diascia can be used interchangeably with alyssum, pansies, nemesia and other cool season annuals. The flowers of diascia come in a range of pinks, whites, corals, and oranges. During cool weather, the plants are covered in blossoms. Once warm summer weather begins, though, plants te...

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Etymology

Description

Species

Coevolution with Rediviva bees

Garden uses

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