Common Name: Cape primrose
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Gesneriaceae
Zone: 10 to 11
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: Flowers freely
Bloom Description: Blue-purple, deep pink, white
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Evergreen
Tolerate: Heavy Shade
Culture
Best grown in a bright but not sunny, warm, draft free location. They prefer a fertile, moist, humus-rich well-drained soil. This native of South Africa is related to the African violet and is grown under similar conditions. Water well, but allow to dry between waterings. Do not wet the foliage and avoid overwatering. They are best grown in cool to average temperatures. When growing indoors, an eastern exposure is ideal. Avoid direct, afternoon sunlight. Mature plants should be cut back after flowering. The plant will remain dormant for up to three months after pruning. Cut back on watering and do not fertilize during this period. Remove faded flowers to prevent seeding.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Streptocarpus is a genus of over 150 species of herbaceous perennials native to mountain slopes of tropical central, eastern, and southern Africa. They are common in cultivation and are grown for their large, showy flowers and long bloom time. The foliage is linear to rounded, velvety, heavily veined and wrinkled. The flowers are long-tubed and usually have five petals. They occur in heads on short upright stems.
Genus name comes from the Greek words streptos meaning twisted and karpos meaning fruit for the twisted capsule.
Problems
Problems amay include botrytis gray mold, root or crown rot, mealybugs, aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Leaf edges may turn brown if soil is too wet. Hard water may lead to chlorosis.
Uses
Used as a flowering indoor plant or treated as an annual or seasonal accent in in hanging baskets or other outdoor containers.