Because it is well-situated to grow and flowers most of the year , theStreptocarpellamakes an ideal gift , and that is how this plant entered my liveliness . Its fuzzy , chubby stem and leave of absence were not particularly impressive , but its flowers are a warmheartedness - stopping lavender blue that will enliven any winter 24-hour interval . But there ’s more — as I hear when I moved my streptocarpella out onto the deck of cards for the summer . Its stem cascaded over the incline of the good deal and it flower profusely all summertime long . And though there are urge ethnical practices , basically this plant will perform beautifully even if you do n’t supply idealistic conditions . The only trouble I ’ve had is figuring out its right name . My acquaintance gave me only one name — streptocarpella — and she explained that to remember it , just guess of streptococcus pharynx . Ugh . The prescribed pronunciation is “ strep - toe - CAR - pell - uh ” — but there ’s nothing about this plant that will remind you of strep throat ; it ’s easy to produce , adaptable , and is simply gorgeous all year .
Names and Confusions
Streptocarpella is a tropical perennial found in moist , warm , and humid forests of Africa and is part of the large Gesneriaceae folk , known asthe Gesneriads(pronounced either “ guess - NARE - ee - ad ” or “ jez - NARE - electrical engineering - ad ” ) , which include African violets and the well - known Cape primrose . After a scrap of enquiry , I discovered that my plant is part of the largeStreptocarpusgenus of evergreen plant perennials , monocarpous plant and annual which can be aggroup intothree very different growth forms :
– acaulescent clump - imprint rosettes ( the “ rosulates ” ) , include Cape primrose
– unifoliates ( plants with a single leafage )
– soft , shrubby - stem plant
Streptocarpella is in the third radical ; it has stem ( “ caulescent ” ) and a more distinctive flora structure . It ’s believably no surprise thatstreptocarpellais often bemused with its relation in the first group , which are usually referred to asStreptocarpus , even though these two “ strepts ” are markedly different in physical body . Because these two groups of plants are tight related , they are each classify as asubgenusof the genusStreptocarpus . So those one - leaf wonders and the Cape primroses are properly called — get ready , it ’s a mouthful — Streptocarpussubgenusstreptocarpus , while my gorgeous houseplant is properly identified asStreptocarpussubgenusStreptocarpella . There ’s probably no motive to get the hang this mouthful , as many authentic authorities will refer to this flora asStreptocarpella saxorum , orStreptocarpus streptocarpellaor simply as streptocarpella , which seems to function as a form of common name . The flora does have a few vernacular names . I have run into it mention to asnodding reddish blue , false violet , Cape violetand even , oddly enough , “ Cape primrose . ”
It ’s deserving noting — especiallyfor those with an involvement in works categorization — that in recent long time taxonomists have re - classified theStreptocarpusgenus and placed African reddish blue in theStreptocarpellasubgenus . If you ’d like to know more about the taxonomy and reclassification , peculiarly as it bear on African violets , you ’ll need to read article on the rather extensiveGesneriad Reference Web , including , gesneriads.genera / streptocarpellaandgesneriads.genera / Streptocarpus Saintpaulia .
And if you ’d wish to see picture of themany unusual plants in the Gesneriad family unit , you ’ll enjoy the page gentle “ Gesneriad Genera , ” atGesneriad Reference Web / Genera . It was a real center - opener to me , and it helped me sympathise why this family of plants is so popular with plant hobbyists and is the focus of conventions and shows.www.gesneriadsociety.org .
Species and Hybrids
Most of the mintage in the subgenusStreptocarpellaarenotin cultivation , though a few are widely available in Africa , Europe , and North America as home plants and tender garden plants , includingS. caulescens , S. kirkii , S. saxorum , S. glandulosissimusandS. hilsenbergii . There are a few hybrids , but the well - known and most commonly usable one is S. ‘ Concord Blue ’ — pictured at right .
Now that I ’ve warned you of all the possible name confusions , countenance me fix your mind to remain with these heady lyric from plant guru Allan Armitage :
“ Species that are utilitarian for summer field goal and containers are interchangeable in appearance , with minuscule ovate leaves and 1 - 1½ ” long lavender tubular peak . They may beStreptocarpus glandulosissimus , S. orientalis , or S. saxorum , but it is difficult to cognize just what is being sold out there . Quite truthfully , this really does n’t count : give low luminosity and consistent moisture , plants are full of flowers throughout the summer into the downfall . . . . Whatever is bought under the nameStreptocarpusorStreptocarpellawill enjoy filter light and moist , but not wet , soils . ”
— Armitage ’s Manual of Annuals , biennial , and Half - Hardy Perennials(p.456 )
Growing Streptocarpella
Streptocarpella is audacious in Zones 9 and 10 , and it ’s normally get as a house plant in North America . Plant it in well - drained constitutive potting intermixture in a container that allows room below for the cascading stems — a works bandstand is idealistic . Place it in an surface area of bright light , but not direct Dominicus . Windows that face either S or east are recommended . My plant is very happy in a S - facing window which is somewhat sheltered from direct Sunday . Water it regularly , and avoid getting weewee on the leaves because it causes browning . You ’ll note that the blooms seem on wiry “ flower stalk ” that are produced at the stem nodes . I ’ve never pruned these after blooming , and my research hint that no pruning is necessary . I DO require to repot my plant , which is getting potbound , but that ’s an exciting prospect since by dividing it , I ’ll gain a new one .
In late spring — after all danger of rime is past — I move my streptocarpella onto my deck into a position where it bring forth a flake of protection from raging good afternoon Dominicus . Sometimes I commit it on a table , where its stems will cascade almost to the trading floor , but you could try place it in a hanging basket , a very popular alternative .
For a photo of a adorable container garden feature streptocarpella along with a number of other plants , seeAggieHorticulture / Container Gardens / Tex . A&Am .
Propagation
Streptocarpella is reportedly easy to pass around , specially from stem cuttings . Cuttings of about 2 to 4 column inch can be taken beneath a leaf node . When the press cutting is placed in clean water , it will sprout origin . Keep the cuttings in bright , indirect visible light at about 65 - 68 ° farad . Once the roots are about 2 inches long , you’re able to pot up the carving . For a picture showing a cutting in a small body of water glass , check outwomanswork.com/2025-04-30/my-favorite-houseplant-streptocarpella-saxorum . instruction for growing from seed are available atPlantZAfrica / Streptocarpus saxorum .
If you are bewitch with the musical theme of a houseplant that ’s an unfussy non - stop bloomer , you ’ll want to trystreptocarpella . My local greenhouse just late tell me that they ’ll be come soon .
origin :
Armitage ’s Manual of Annuals , Biennials , and Half - unfearing Perennials(2001 ) , p. 456 .
“ Streptocarpus subgenus Streptocarpella,”The Gesneriad Reference Web / genera / streptocarpella/
“ Global Plants ” database athttps://plants.jstor.org/compilation/streptocarpus.glandulosissimus(Note : Global Plants is the public ’s prominent database of digitized plant specimen ; its hunt Thomas Nelson Page is athttps://plants.jstor.org .
“ Plant of the Week : Streptocarpella,”Univ . Ark. Ext . Resource Library
“ Streptocarpus saxorum , ” PlantZAfrica , South African National Biodiversity Institute
Gesneriad Reference web : emergence Forms
Feature pic courtesy of Fairview Gardens , Raleigh , North Carolina
