Diascia named Juliet Light Pink
by J McCombie
Title
Diascia named Juliet Light Pink
Artist
J McCombie
Medium
Photograph - Untouched
Description
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; about 50 species, mostly annuals, are found in the Western Cape and Namaqualand, winter rainfall areas. Their common name is twinspur, in reference to the two (usually downward-pointing) spurs to be found on the back of the flower. These help to distinguish them from the similar (and closely related) genera Alonsoa and Nemesia. The spurs contain a special oil, which is collected in the wild by certain species of bees that appear to have coevolved with the plants, as they have unusually long forelegs for collecting the oil. In gardens, Diascia cultivars (mostly hybrids) have become extremely popular as colourful, floriferous, easily grown bedding plants in recent years.
Surprisingly, the generic name (from the Greek di = two and askos = bag, pouch or sack) does not refer to the spurs, but to the two translucent sacs, or pouches, known as 'windows', found in the upper part of the corolla of the original type specimen, Diascia bergiana. Diascia species in the section Racemosae have similar windows, but in some species they merge into one. The windows may help oil-collecting bees to find the correct position within the corolla when gathering oil from the glands within the spurs.
Most diascia species are short-growing, straggling plants, reaching no more than 3045 centimetres (1218 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.
Juliet Light Pink Twinspur features dainty spikes of pink pea-like flowers with rose eyes at the ends of the stems from late spring to early fall. It's small pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Juliet Light Pink Twinspur is an herbaceous annual bedding plant with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This annual bedding plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics. Juliet Light Pink Twinspur is recommended for the following landscape applications: Container Planting, General Garden Use, Border Edging, Mass Planting, Hanging Baskets, Rock/Alpine Gardens.
Juliet Light Pink Twinspur will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year. This annual bedding plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This plant can be propagated by cuttings. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
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February 20th, 2016
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