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 genera Alonsoa and Nemesia. The spurs contain a special oil, which is collected in the wild by bees of the genus Rediviva (e.g. R. longimanus) that appear to have coevolved with the plants, as they have unusually long forelegs for collecting the oil. In gardens, Diascia cultivars have become extremely popular as colourful, floriferous, easily grown bedding plants in recent years. Diascia integerrima is a lovely, delicate plant and is a jewel in the garden for it flowers abundantly throughout the summer. In the wild it is found throughout the mountainous areas of the north-eastern and eastern Free State, Lesotho, the north Eastern Cape and the southern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. This South African indigenous species is a delightful evergreen that can be used in pots, rockeries, hanging baskets, to fill little pockets between other plants and in garden beds. The possibilities for mixing Diascia intergerrima with other summer flowers are endless, whether it is with other perennials like blue Wahlenbergia undulata or mauve Monopsis unidentata; or for a spectacular sight with bulbs like the tall graceful bells of Dierama or the blue spikes of Scilla natalensis. The bright pink flowers also make a wonderful contrast with the grey foliage of Cotyledon orbiculata. A large pot filled only with a mass of flowering Diascia intergerrima, is also an unforgettable sight.
