Twinspur Diascia 'Joyce's Choice'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The plant known as Diascia 'Joyce's Choice' is a delightful flowering perennial that bears a profusion of charming flowers. Each bloom stands out with a funnel-like shape and possesses a delicate hue that can range from soft, pale pink to a more robust coral or salmon, depending on the particular variant. The petals are adorned with subtle lines or markings, which can guide pollinators to the center of the flower. These blossoms are held aloft on slender stems that arise from the plant's foliage. The leaves themselves have a bright green color and tend to be narrow, sometimes with a lance-like or ovate form. The overall demeanor of 'Joyce's Choice' is one of frothy abundance, as it can become covered in its pretty flowers, creating a cloud of color. The growth habit of Diascia 'Joyce's Choice' is generally neat and mounded. Throughout its blooming season, which spans from late spring through to autumn with proper care, this plant continuously produces new buds and flowers, often making it a favorite among gardeners for adding long-lasting vibrancy to borders, containers, or hanging baskets. It harmonizes beautifully in mixed plantings as well, contributing to a variety of garden designs with its endearing appearance and generous flowering nature.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Twinspur
- Common names
  Diascia 'Joyce's Choice'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Diascia 'Joyce's Choice', also known simply as Diascia, is not widely recognized as a toxic plant to humans. There is limited information available on its potential toxicity if ingested. As with many plants, it is generally not advisable to eat Diascia without proper knowledge of its edibility and potential effects. While this specific variety of Diascia may not be documented as toxic, it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid ingesting parts of ornamental plants due to the potential for unknown adverse reactions.
- To pets
  Diascia 'Joyce's Choice', commonly referred to as Diascia, is not typically known to be toxic to pets. There is a lack of specific information pertaining to the toxicity of this particular cultivar in animals. However, most Diascia species are not listed as poisonous for pets, which includes both dogs and cats. Nevertheless, ingestion of non-food plants by pets can sometimes lead to gastrointestinal upset or allergic reactions, depending on the individual pet's sensitivity. As a general rule, it's advisable to prevent pets from consuming ornamental plants.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Spread
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  Varies
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Blooms: Diascia 'Joyce's Choice' features profuse and dainty salmon-pink flowers that can enhance the visual appeal of gardens and landscapes.
- Pollinator Friendly: This plant attracts various pollinators such as bees and butterflies, aiding in the pollination of surrounding plants.
- Extended Flowering Period: It has a long blooming season, typically from late spring through fall, providing extended color in the garden.
- Low Maintenance: Diascia is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance other than occasional watering and deadheading of spent flowers to encourage reblooming.
- Versatile Planting Options: It can be used in borders, containers, and hanging baskets, offering versatility in garden design and placement.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Diascia 'Joyce's Choice' possesses a degree of drought tolerance, making it suitable for regions with water restrictions.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- As a natural dye: The flowers of Diascia can be used to produce a mild, natural dye for fabric or paper crafting.
- Ink making: Similarly, the pigments from Diascia flowers can be used to create botanical inks for art or writing.
- Photography prop: Diascia plants with vibrant colors can add aesthetic appeal as props in macro and nature photography.
- Education and research: Diascia plants can be used in educational settings to teach botany and pollination biology due to their unique flower structure.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals of Diascia can serve as biodegradable confetti for outdoor celebrations to minimize environmental impact.
- Fairy gardens: Tiny Diascia flowers can be perfect for creating or enhancing whimsical fairy gardens.
- Artistic inspiration: The form and color of Diascia blooms can inspire patterns and designs in textile, wallpaper, and graphic design.
- Floral crafts: Dried Diascia stems and flowers can be used in crafting dried floral arrangements, wreaths, or potpourri.
- Culinary decoration: Edible Diascia flowers can be used to garnish dishes and desserts, though this is not common and one should ensure the flowers used are indeed edible and free from pesticides.
- Livestock feed: In some cases, the foliage of Diascia, if proven non-toxic, can be used as a supplemental feed for certain livestock.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Diascia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Diascia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Affection: Diascia often symbolizes warmth and affection due to its cozy appearance and inviting colors. 'Joyce's Choice', with its charming flowers, promotes a sense of love and care.
- Attraction: The plant's vibrant blooms can represent attraction and magnetism, evoking the feeling of being drawn to something (or someone) irresistible.
- Charm: The delicate nature of Diascia flowers often stands for charm and grace. 'Joyce's Choice' enhances this symbolism with its pleasing aesthetics.
- Perseverance: As Diascias are hardy plants that can thrive in challenging conditions, they are frequently associated with perseverance and the ability to overcome adversity.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Twinspur should be watered regularly to maintain moist but not soggy soil, especially during the growing season. For potted plants, check moisture by touching the soil; if the top inch is dry, it's time to water, generally about once a week. When watering, use around 16-24 ounces of water for standard-sized pots, adjusting based on the size of the plant and the pot. During the cooler months, or when growth slows, reduce watering frequency but do not let the soil dry out completely. Overhead watering is not recommended as it can promote disease; instead, water at the base of the plant.
Light
Twinspur thrives in full sunlight but can also tolerate partial shade. The optimal location is a spot where the plant can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. If grown indoors, a south-facing window or a space with bright, indirect light is ideal for maintaining vibrant blooms and healthy growth.
Temperature
Twinspur prefers moderate temperatures and performs best in conditions between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Protect Twinspur from extreme heat and frost, as temperatures beyond the preferred range may stress the plant and affect flowering.
Pruning
Pruning Twinspur encourages bushier growth and more blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continued flowering. Lightly trim the plant after the first flush of blooms to rejuvenate and encourage a second wave of flowering. Do not prune heavily, as this can damage the plant. The best time for pruning is after the blooming season or in the early spring before new growth begins.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Twinspur is lightweight, well-draining, and rich in organic matter with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5. A mix of peat, loam, and sharp sand is ideal.
Repotting
Twinspur should be repotted every year or two, ideally in the spring, as it thrives with fresh soil and room to grow.
Humidity & Misting
Twinspur prefers moderate humidity levels, but it is quite adaptable and can tolerate the average humidity found in most homes.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Twinspur in bright, indirect light and avoid dry air indoors for optimal growth.
- Outdoor
  Plant Twinspur in a sunny to partly shaded spot protected from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  Twinspur is suitable for USDA zones 9-11.
Life cycle
Diascia 'Joyce's Choice', also known as Twinspur, begins its life cycle as a seed, requiring well-drained soil and a temperate environment to germinate. Upon germinating, the plant enters the seedling stage, developing its first true leaves and establishing a root system. As it grows, Twinspur transitions to the vegetative stage, where it develops a bushy structure with green, lance-shaped foliage. When environmental conditions are favorable, typically in spring or early summer, it enters the flowering stage, producing delicate, tubular flowers with a distinctive spur at the back, ranging in color from pink to salmon. After pollination, often by bees or butterflies, it sets seed, which can be dispersed to propagate new plants. In harsh climates or seasons, Diascia 'Joyce's Choice' may die back, entering a period of dormancy, but it can re-emerge if it is a perennial variety or if conditions improve.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Summer
- The most popular method for propagating Diascia 'Joyce's Choice', commonly known as Twinspur, is through stem cuttings. This is typically done in late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. A healthy non-flowering shoot is chosen, and a cutting about 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 cm) long is taken. The lower leaves are stripped off, and the cut end can be dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The cutting is then placed in a well-draining potting mix and kept moist but not waterlogged. It's important to maintain a high humidity around the cutting, which can be achieved by covering the pot with a plastic bag or placing it in a propagator. Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which the new plant can be gradually acclimated to less humid conditions before planting out.