Type Size Foliage Hardiness Position Season Flower Colour Other

STREPTOCARPUS hybrids Cape Primrose (Gesneriaceae)

Over the last 30 years, many hybrids have been created from only two or three species of Streptocarpus, now mainly by Dibley's Nurseries in Wales. These hybrids come in all shades of red, pink, mauve, purple and white, most with lighter or darker streaks or blotches in the throat. Flower size varies from about an inch across to over 2", and the texture is sometimes velvety, as in 'Festival Wales', a brilliant flamboyant royal purple. The flowers come in small clusters on branched stems about 6"-8" high, and the individual flowers may be drooping or held almost horizontally. Seed strains often have large frilly flowers in bright colours.

They flower almost all year round, with a break from winter to spring.

The leaves are long and crinkled, like those of the primrose, giving rise to the common name of Cape Primrose, but Streptocarpus is not a Primrose. It is in the same family as Gloxinia and African Violet.

The natural species grow in the shade of forests in South Africa. In cultivation, they can be grown in light or semi-shade, but not hot sunlight. They need adequate water, particularly when flowering, but should not be kept moist. If anything, they prefer underwatering. They also do well when pot-bound, which is not very difficult, as they quickly fill their pot with new roots.

Greenfly can be a problem, and I use a systemic insecticide pin for this, to avoid wetting the leaves. On the other hand, Streptocarpus prefer a humid atmosphere, and it is safe to spray them on fine days when excess moisture can evaporate. The old leaves also go brown, and may be removed easily with a careful pull. Sometimes, part of the crown may rot, particularly if the compost is wet, and the damaged part can also easily be removed.

Streptocarpus leaves are covered in fine hairs, and they may cause irritation or a rash in people with sensitive skin.

Propagation:

Seeds:

Streptocarpus means 'twisted fruit', because the seed pod is very twisted. It grows to about 3"-4" long, thin and pointed, and when ripe, it unfurls to drop the seeds. The seeds are like dust. Sow on the surface of a pot of moist compost, and keep in a warm place. I germinated mine in a small propagator with bottom heat, but they have also self-sown in my conservatory.

Leaf Cuttings:

The most usual method of propagation is by leaf cuttings. Simply hold a suitable leaf firmly and tug gently to remove it from the parent plant. Insert the leaf about half an inch deep in moist compost, keep in a shady place, and roots and baby leaves will grow from the base.

The parent leaf may also be cut into sections either along the midrib or horizontally, and each piece treated as a cutting, but I have never tried this.

Some Streptocarpus hybrids are:

'Stella' Large flowers, upper petals pale pink, side petals darker, with dark veining, borne singly or in small clusters.	'Festival Wales' Large flowers, upper petals deep velvety royal purple, side petals redder, with dark veining, borne singly or in small clusters.	'Susan' Large flowers with rounded petals, bright cerise with yellow throat with veining, borne singly or in small clusters.
'Blue Heaven' Small fluted 'double' flowers, pale blue with darker streaks, borne in clusters held horizontally.	'Ruby' Medium flowers, bright cerise with deeper markings into the throat, borne in clusters held horizontally.	Seedling Grown from 'Royal Mix'. Large ruffled flowers, bright colours with dark veining, drooping clusters.
'Kim' Small velvety deep purple-blue flowers with white throat, borne in small clusters held horizontally.	Self-sown Hybrid Probably of 'Ruby', as it is the same size and habit, and a plant from 'Royal Mix'.	'Catrin' Small soft pink flowers with deeper markings into a long white throat, small clusters held horizontally.