This Twinspur is the toughest of this genus and grows in clumps with many upright wiry stems. Its native habitat is the slopes and streams of African mountains. It blooms with a profusion of rose-pink flowers in spring through fall and requires a sunny location and well-drained, good garden soil prepared with plenty of compost. Although this species is more tolerant of dry conditions than most Twinspurs, it still requires regular watering throughout the year. It doesn't tolerate hot, humid conditions well and may stop blooming during the hottest times. Prune the plant back for fall bloom. Twinspurs are pollinated in the wild by specialized bees that collect oil from between the spurs. It rarely sets seed in cultivated conditions so it is best propagated from stem cuttings. Some references suggest propagating them each year for the best flower display rather than letting them return in the spring or grow them as annuals.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja Lo & Behold® 'Pink Micro Chip'Diascia barberaeGomphrena 'Pink Zazzle'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Up to 1 inch long narrow glossy green leaves mostly near the base of the plant.
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The 3/4 inch flower is shaped with a large drooping lower lip and four smaller curly petals at the top. At the center of the flower, there is a bright yellow and maroon concave patch. There are 2 long spurs on the back of the flower. Flowers bloom in clusters as terminal racemes.