Cape Primrose – Streptocarpus spp. or S. X hybridus

Common Name: Cape Primrose

Botanical Name: Streptocarpus spp. or S. X hybridus, strep-toe-KAR-pus

Decorative Life: 2-4 weeks.

Flower Color: Blue, Pink, Purple, White

Availability: Year Round

Spraying seedlings with gibberellins (4+7) when leaves were greater than one inch long increased the number of flowers per plant (Orvos et al., 1989).

• Member of the Gesneriaceae (gesneria family).
• Native to Madagascar.
• Two very common relatives are African Violet and gloxinia.

• Flowers tubular, spreading to trumpet-shaped, held above foliage.
• Leaves fleshy, velvety.

Chill sensitive, store above 55 degrees F.

• Streptocarpus: Greek for twisted-fruit.
• Some favorite cultivars and their respective flower colors include ‘Hera’ (maroon with white picotee) and ‘Sirius’ (purple with white picotee).
• Unless the seed pods are wanted, remove them before they develop for a better looking plant and possibly more flower production.
• Needs more light than most indoor plants.