Diascia Flying Colours Appleblossom ('Diastara') (Flying Colours Series)

RHS Plant Profile
twinspur [Flying Colours Appleblossom]

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twinspur [Flying Colours Appleblossom] RHS
twinspur [Flying Colours Appleblossom] RHS

Synonyms

Diascia 'Diastara'

Bedding Herbaceous Perennial
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A mat-forming, trailing, borderline hardy perennial often grown as an annual. It has small mid-green, oval, semi-evergreen leaves and wiry stems that bear an abundant froth of large pink-tinted, two-spurred flowers in succession from summer to early autumn. Height around 30cm (12in)

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Diascia can be annuals or semi-evergreen perennials, usually making a mat of neat foliage with racemes of cup or bell-shaped flowers, usually in shades of pink, and each with two short spurs
Name Status
Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Water in dry periods. Provide protection from frosts This plant was included in the RHS Diascia (twinspur) perennial trial 2024-2025 https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/ongoing-plant-trials/diascia-perennial

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Hanging Basket
  • Patio and container plants
  • Bedding
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required. Cut back old stems to ground level in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free