Diastis

Diascia

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Coral Belle'

Summary: 'Diastis' is a taller plant with a more upright growth habit than 'Coral Belle'. Flower colour for 'Diastis' is darker red pink than that of 'Coral Belle'.

Description:

'Diastis' is an annual twin spur variety with very upright to bushy growth habit and moderately dense branching. The medium to thick stems are medium green in colour with weak to strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The medium green leaf blades are ovate to cordate in shape and the margins of the leaf blades are serrate. Anthocyanin colouration of the leaf blades is absent. Glossiness of the upper surface of the leaf blade is weak.

'Diastis' flowers almost continuously. Flower colour is red pink on the inner and outer sides. The spurs are dark pink red in colour and there is a yellow spot present in the throat of the corolla.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Diastis' originated from a cross between 'A 75-1', a pink flowering Diascia with a spreading growth habit and very large flowers, and 'A 64-1', a coral flowering Diascia with a semi-erect growth habit and intermediate flower size. The cross took place in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 1998. Selection criteria was based on flowering time and flower size.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Diastis' were conducted in a greenhouse during the summer of 2003 at BioFlora Inc. in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial consisted of 15 plants per variety grown from unrooted cuttings, rooted at week 22 and transplanted into 11cm pots at week 28. All colour characteristics were determined using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on ten plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Diastis' with reference variety 'Coral Belle'

Plant height (cm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Colour of spurs (RHS)

Colour of spot in corolla throat (RHS)