Streptocarpus Care and Propagation Tips

01.08.2023 - 14:41 / gardenerstips.co.uk / hortoris

Windowsill orchids are a houseplant favourite and I repeat and update some tips given 3 years ago.

Cape Primrose known as Streptocarpus now come in a wide range of colours and bi-colours. I like ‘Roulette Cherry’ a maroon with white center. Still my favourite is the pure white ‘Albatross’ AGM with just a hint of yellow in the center. regular readers will know I tip a lot of AGM plants, the RHS award of garden merit, because if it is good enough for the RHS I have to make a real botch of it not to get a decent plant.

A comparatively new range of seven ‘all year around’ flowering Streptocarpus are sold by Dibleys nursery under the banner ‘Crystal Series’. The flowers are smaller but initially more numerous. I have been a bit frustrated by the sparse flowers from Autumn onward and don’t think they are worth growing in preference the main cultivars. Crystal Ice has an AGM and is white with a purple throat.

Dibleys continue to send me their Young Plant Catalogue with new varieties to tempt the windowsill or Cape Primrose grower.

Thompson Morgan are a seed supplier of these flowering houseplants that some find fascinating.

Recent New Varieties

Myfanwy, another girls name to adorn a flower. In this case a white with purple face. Harriet, what is it about girls names, this is deep purple. Scarlett, as in O’Hara I don’t think so but it is blood red. Cappuccino isn’t coffee coloured but deep mauve with indigo. Harlequin Blue is half yellow, so go figure.

Grow from seeds at Thompson & Morgan