Lilac Belle Diascia

Lilac Belle Diascia (Diascia 'Lilac Belle') is a low, mat forming perennial only 15 to 30cm tall and 30 to 50cm wide, flowering in warm lilac-pink from summer to early autumn. Each open flower has a large lower petal, much like a small pansy, and the variety holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It is made for the front of a border, a basket or a pot.

Why you'll love it

• Months of flower. Flowers open from summer to early autumn, and a clip after the first flush brings a second.
• A colour that blends. The warm lilac-pink sits well with pastels, sunny citrus shades and pure white, so it fits almost any scheme.
• Good for bees and butterflies. Masses of small flowers give pollinators plenty to feed on.
• A proven variety. The Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit marks it as a reliable garden plant.
• Low and tidy. It stays under 30cm, so it softens edges without hiding what grows behind it.

Where it works best

Borders and flowerbeds. Plant 30cm apart along the front of a bed. The mats knit together into a soft ribbon of lilac-pink.

Rockeries and cottage gardens. Thread it through rocks and between taller perennials, where it spills over edges and fills gaps.

Pots, baskets and window boxes. It suits patio containers and hanging baskets, giving seasonal colour at close range.

Growing Lilac Belle Diascia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or dappled shade. Diascias prefer mild summers, so in hot humid districts give them shade from the harshest afternoon sun. It tolerates light frost and suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens.

Soil. Plant in light, free draining soil, especially in cooler climates, where wet winter ground does the damage. In heavy soil, use a raised bed or a pot.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks, while the plant establishes. After that, water in prolonged dry periods. Fertilise monthly through summer to keep the flowers coming.

Pruning. Clip hard back after the first flowering to promote a second flush. For large areas, shears do the job quickly. In spring, as new leaf growth starts, clip last year's old stems back.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lilac Belle Diascia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly in a sunny, free draining spot. Expect a small plant at first, which builds into a mat as the weather warms.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants that suit pots and baskets
• Plants for rockeries and gravel gardens
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants
• Perennial plants for a cottage garden

Common questions

How do I get it to flower again?

Clip it hard back after the first flowering. For a large patch, shears are fine. New buds follow, and the show lasts through the warmer months.

Can I grow it in a hanging basket?

Yes. It suits baskets, window boxes and patio pots, and the trailing mats look good at eye level. Feed monthly through summer.

Does it survive frost?

It tolerates light frost. In harsher winters it may die back, so mulch the crown and clip old stems in spring when new growth starts.