Diascia: The Secret Star for Balcony Boxes

Many balcony boxes look tired by June, even though summer has only just begun. A relatively little-known flower from southern Africa can change that: Diascia, sometimes sold as Twinspur. It may look modest when bought, but with a little care it develops in spring into a curtain of blooms that lasts well into autumn.

Why Diascia is the secret star for balcony boxes

Diascia belongs to the figwort family and originates in southern Africa. In horticulture, it is grown as a compact plant with a gently trailing habit that quickly forms dense cushions.

Growth habit and dimensions

Depending on the variety, Diascia reaches around 25 to 40 centimetres in height and spreads 30 to 60 centimetres wide.

Diascia flowers and colours

Its defining feature is the abundance of small, five-lobed flowers, which sit like a floral carpet above the foliage. The range of colours is surprisingly broad:

• soft apricot