How to Grow Diascia 'Ruby Fields'

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Diascia 'Ruby Fields'

Diascia barberae 'Ruby Fields'

flower

Diascia 'Ruby Fields' is a compact, mounding annual or tender perennial featuring delicate coral-red flowers with distinctive snapdragon-like blooms. This cultivar is prized for its prolific flowering habit and low-growing, spreading growth pattern, making it ideal for containers, borders, and hanging baskets. It blooms continuously from spring through fall in cooler climates, providing months of vibrant color.

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Example Diascia 'Ruby Fields' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Diascia 'Ruby Fields'
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
First Diascia 'Ruby Fields' blooms
Around Jun 1

≈ 45 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Diascia 'Ruby Fields' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun to partial shade; 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily for best flowering

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water regularly, especially during dry spells and when grown in containers. Reduce watering in winter if overwintering.

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Spacing: 8-12 inches

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Days to maturity: 45-60 days to first flowers

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Planting depth: Surface sow or barely cover seeds; transplant seedlings at 2-3 inches tall

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

compost perlite or coarse sand organic matter

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 9-11; grown as an annual in cooler zones or overwintered indoors

9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings emerge with cotyledons and first true leaves appear within 10-14 days. Seedlings are delicate and require bright light and consistent moisture.

Provide bright indoor light or grow lights. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Maintain temperatures around 65-70°F. Thin seedlings or transplant to individual pots at 2-3 inches tall.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops multiple stems and a bushy, mounding form with small, narrow green foliage. No flowers yet; growth is focused on establishing a strong root system and branching structure.

Pinch back growing tips when plants reach 4-6 inches to encourage bushier growth. Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions. Maintain consistent moisture and feed lightly with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

Flowering

2-3 months or longer with proper care

Delicate coral-red flowers begin appearing at stem tips, resembling tiny snapdragon blooms. Each flower is about ½ inch long and clustered in loose spikes. Flowering is prolific and continuous under good conditions.

Maintain consistent watering and feed with a balanced or slightly phosphorus-rich fertilizer every 2 weeks to encourage continued blooming. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote more blooms. Ensure adequate sunlight.

Peak Bloom & Maintenance

2-3 months or until frost

Plant reaches full flowering potential with dense coverage of coral-red flowers covering the mounding form. Growth slows as energy is directed to flowering.

Continue deadheading regularly. Water consistently, especially in hot weather. Cut back leggy growth by half if plant becomes overgrown. In zones 9-10, can be overwintered indoors or outdoors in mild years; bring indoors before hard frost in zone 9.

End of Season / Dormancy

Until first frost or through winter dormancy

Flowering slows dramatically with frost approach or in late fall. Plant may be killed by hard frost in zones below 9, or can enter dormancy if overwintered.

Stop fertilizing. Reduce watering gradually. In zones 9+, plants may be cut back by half and brought indoors to a cool, bright location. In cooler zones, treat as an annual and compost or save seeds if available.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Calibrachoa Osteospermum Bacopa Scaevola Trailing ivy-leaf geranium Sweet alyssum Nemesia Convolvulus

Avoid planting near:

Dense shade-casting shrubs Plants requiring dry conditions Species competing heavily for moisture

Common Pests

Increase humidity by misting foliage. Spray with water to dislodge. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestation is severe. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and control. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil on undersides of leaves. Ensure good air circulation.
Provide good air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Spray with sulfur dust or potassium bicarbonate fungicide at first sign of white coating on leaves.
and
Remove by hand, especially at dusk. Use beer traps or copper barriers around plants. Apply diatomaceous earth around plant base.
Spray strong water spray to dislodge. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs.

Uses

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Edible Flowers

Culinary

Diascia flowers are edible and can garnish salads or desserts with their delicate, peppery-sweet taste, though they are grown primarily for ornamental purposes. Use only if no pesticides have been applied. [source]

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Container & Hanging Basket Gardens

Household

The compact, mounding growth habit and prolific flowering make 'Ruby Fields' ideal for container plantings, window boxes, and hanging baskets on patios and balconies. Multiple plants in a container create impressive color displays. [source]

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Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

The delicate flowers attract bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects, supporting pollinator populations in gardens. Continuous blooming provides nectar throughout the growing season. [source]

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Fresh Flower Arrangements

Craft

Delicate coral-red flowers can be used in fresh floral arrangements and bouquets, though they have a relatively short vase life. Best used in small posies or cottage-style arrangements. [source]

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Border & Edging

Household

The low, spreading mound-forming habit makes 'Ruby Fields' excellent for edging garden beds, pathways, and perennial borders, providing a neat appearance and consistent color. [source]

Harvest Tips

Diascia is grown for ornamental flowers rather than harvest. Deadhead spent blooms regularly by pinching or cutting off flower clusters just below the bloom to encourage continuous flowering. Cut flowers can be used fresh in small arrangements but have short vase life (2-3 days).

Fun Facts

🌱 Diascia is native to South Africa and gets its name from the Greek words 'dia' (two) and 'askos' (sac), referring to the two pouch-like projections on the back of the flower.
🌱 'Ruby Fields' blooms more prolifically in cool weather and can experience a brief flowering slowdown during peak summer heat, bouncing back when temperatures moderate in late summer and fall.
🌱 Diascia has been a major ornamental plant discovery in the last 30 years, with 'Ruby Fields' and other cultivars gaining popularity for their unique snapdragon-like flowers and superior garden performance compared to many traditional annuals.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Compost Cultivar Deadhead Full Sun Partial Shade Perennial pH Pinch Back Transplant True Leaves

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