I just bought some Diascia 'Katherine' at Martha's Bloomers. It says it grows 6-10 inches tall 12-16 inches wide. Sort of a mini-ground cover. It is supposed to get rose-pink flowers and has variegated foliage. It looked neat to me, and since I didn't have one (mercy me!) I bought three. I've been googling it, and all I can find is a little bit of information from California, Oregon, and England. That doesn't bode well for someone in the Houston area! Does anyone have any experience with this plant?
CJ
Any experience with Diascia?
Nothing in PlantFiles either (I'm sure you already tried that). Unless somebody knows and chimes in...my solution's always put it in the shade! LOL
Debbie
Hmmm, I think Martha's Bloomers is pretty good about carrying things that grow well in TX. Weird that so little info is out there. I guess you'll have to be our guinea pig, lol! What does it look like now (can you post a pic?) It will be interesting to see what your experience is.
How was your Master Gardeners' conference?
Yes and so far not good. I have tried diascia several times w/ poor outcome; however, I am a chronic over waterer! The guy at Another Place in Time in the Heights told me that if I could keep it dry...alas, that should have been the warning sign for me...it would do well to fall. I suggest good drainage and don't let me near your garden! I have overwatered all but one over the past 2 years of trying. The one survivor has just been lucky to have escaped my heavy hand.
The Dallas Arboretum had it in their trial gardens a couple of years ago. I've bought several of them since seeing it there (mail order then, but it's now showing up in the local nurseries here). I've not had any success with them either.
Well, it doesn't sound too good for the home team! If it had been Lowe's or WalMart, I would have said "Hmmmm....Haven't heard of it. Probably doesn't grow here", and left it. But like maggiemoo said, I sort of gave more trust to Martha's Bloomers. So, I will give it more shade - good idea, Debbie! - and try to find a spot that doesn't get irrigation (good luck there!). And just let the humidity take it out. At least it won't be MY fault! LOL
Here's the picture, Mary. The plant behind the Diascia is Ledebouria cooperi - Zebra's Quill. It has reddish purple stripes running the length of the blade. Also a new plant for me, but it can take "a moist spot in the rock garden" and I have that! MG Conference was fine. Mostly seeing old friends and making some new ones. Learned a little too! LOL (My, you have a good memory!)
CJ
Cj, that looks like bicolor sage to me
Silver - It's a groundcover. The picture obviously doesn't do it "justice". I should have taken it from the side, instead of the top.....
Nice looking plant CJ--keep us updated on its survival.
I bought 3 'Hannah Rose' Diascia last year because the blooms are so pretty and because Hannah Rose is one of my grandaughter's names. I planted i in a conatiner as a companion plant to a climbing vine. It received a lot of sun. The other 2 I planted in an area that does not receive much sunlight at all after the other plants grew up around them. The 2 in the shady area kept trying to find more light and eventaully died ... should have moved them. The one that received lots of hot afternoon sun did very well and grew over the edge of the container. It survived the winter with no protection; but, it was in a southfacing location next to my garage. Because the rain (hip hip hooray, finally had some after none for months on end) was pouring off of my garage roof into the conatiner and battering it, I moved it yesterday into a container that is attached to my fence. Not having any rain last summer, It was not battered to death. It will receive several hors of direct sunlight during the heat of the day, then filtered sunlight and then shade. I hope it survives.
This is 'Hannah Rose' ...
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/90033/index.html
My favorite nursery had 'Strawberry Sundae' growing in a container under an oak tree 2 years ago and it did okay; but, it was not a very large plant. It looked as though it needed more light.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/64488/index.html
I think that perhaps the perfect location would be where the Diascia receives morning sun for quite a few hours, a little afternoon sun and then afternoon filtered (light) shade.
That's an awsome plant Hazel! I don't remember ever seeing that one.
Hazel--has that plant been in the PlantFiles very long? I swear I looked for it--those teenagers are "addling" my brain...probably didn't have enough sense to spell it right! LOL
Debbie
Debbie,
They have both been in there for a while. Teenagers surely can do that ... ah, the fond memories of having a house full of teenagers. :o)
Mary Lee, I guess I never pointed them out to you.
htop - Thanks for the info and heads-up. I, too, couldn't find it on Dave's Garden. Perhaps it was because I put "katherine" in the cultivar space....
I will try growing it in a raised bed in a planter made of landscaping boulders that is not irrigated - hand watered only, in my pool area which is screened-in and therefore doesn't get the full glare of the sun. It also doesn't bear the full brunt of heavy rains. The rabbit's foot ferns are not happy there (although fancy-leaved caladiums were), so time for a change. That should cover all the angles! I'll let you all know what happens.
Thanks, everybody.
CJ
htop, both are really beautiful.
I wish you all luck, I love them but have given up diascia, they just aren't meant for this area or perhaps they are not meant for me. :-(
I got a couple of them in Feb. and planted them in a basket and so far so good. They are getting leggy and I plan to cut them back...I am going to plant them in a large pot with a rose. The flowers are a pretty red foilage is not varigated on mine, that would be cool!
Hazel, I'm glad you weighed in on this, those flowers are really very pretty!
Good luck, CJ!
I think I'm a gonna need it!
I have complete faith in you and your ability to get those plants growing so strong we'll have all have "pups" for fall RU!
Debbie
HAHAHA, not at you Ceejay, but at Debbie's blissful optimism. :-))
I think it was more like wishful thinking. I just wish I could put a dehumidifier near them. I might stand a chance then! LOL Oh well, a sha-launge....
With CJ its not wishful thinking....very skillful gardener with the pics to prove it (shamelessly begging for a garden tour at your place CJ! lol).
Come on up, Debbie! Just remember that I only show pictures of the good stuff. I've checked out your pics, and you have an awesome garden(s) going!! And you do veggies (and mints - lol) too! I just do ornamentals, with a few tomatoes and herbs stuck in amongst them. Some people I know would say that's not real gardening.
BTW, I planted the Diascia tonight, almost dark... It's been so dang hot & humid, and I've been gone in the mornings, that they lingered in their pots (bought them last Friday - only 5 days ago). When I looked at them this afternoon, they were already half dead. I decided I couldn't wait a day longer. So DH transplanted the rabbit's foot fern, while I installed the Diascia in their place. The soil in their pots was SO wet, they may already be goners. Since they were protected from rain under the port-a-cachere, methinks DH was watering them. Anyway, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
CJ--I do mostly ornamentals....just that the urge to grow ANYTHING is so strong I stick vegetables into empty spots. Those empty spots are becoming smaller and smaller with permanent plants every year.
Here's a cucumber with a small vitex, in my opinion anyway, the vitex far outshines the cumumber. And when the spring tomato plant starts interferring with the space needed for my beloved rangoon creeper...well then, the tomato is history, fruiting or not. LOL
Debbie
Debbie
buy "patio" type tomatoes, so much easier, they grow in pots and don't take up the space for more asthetic plants!
I have 2 pots, and 2 tomatoes ready to pick. Ok, it's not going to allow me to stop buying store bought, but it's fun.
April