Popular varieties of streptocarpus

Streptocarpus is a representative of the Gesneriaceae family (Streptocarpus). It is difficult not to note some similarity of the plant with violets, but if you understand the peculiarities of care, then it immediately becomes clear that all Gesneriaceae have a strong, but unpretentious character. Huge inflorescences of streptocarpus bloom in large buds and stand out against the background of their fellows. The rosette at the leaves is wide, starting at the very bottom.

In our country, streptocarpus as a houseplant was found on window sills back in the 70-80s of the last century. However, it was difficult to call it beautiful: the flowers are small, pale blue, the leaves are large and wrinkled. The main plus of the culture is a rather long and abundant flowering, and of the minuses, the plant fell into hibernation and shed its leaves. But in recent years, the situation has changed a lot thanks to the efforts of breeders, and a simple indoor flower has become a beautiful culture.

Where does this beautiful flower come from? From East Asia, Madagascar island. The plant was first discovered in South Africa in 1818 by botanist James Bowie. He collected the seeds and sent them to the London Botanic Gardens. The plant was originally named Didimocarpus rexii, and 10 years later it was renamed Streptocarpus rexii, and later it became the basis of modern hybrids. As a rule, its locations are humid forests, near water sources (seas or oceans), but sometimes streptocarpus can be found both on mountain peaks and on the seashore itself.

Let us first analyze the main types of streptocarpus, and then move on to the varieties.

• Streptocarpus is rocky. It is clear from the name that this species loves rocky and mountain embankments, and is most often found in such places, since the local climate cannot damage the plant. As a rule, the sun beats down hard near the seaside, but it is surprising that this streptocarpus remains intact by its relentless radiation. The rhizome curls and grows stiff, small leaves with villi grow. On a straight peduncle, only a few purple flowers appear, which do not grow for long.

• Royal... This species prefers the humid climate of tropical forests, and grows best in shady areas such as trees. Gorgeous flowers grow large and bright, up to 30 cm, bright purple color, with long leaves.

• Wendland (Streptocarpus wendlandii). This species has the largest leaves in length, they reach 100 cm, elongated, with light veins. Peduncle time is also quite long, it begins in summer, tying fruits after pollination, and decorating plants with up to 20 lilac inflorescences.

Streptocarpus has up to 150 varieties suitable for both home breeding and decorative varieties brought from abroad, distinguished by a variety of colorful flowers with fancy petals and the size of the rosette itself. Plants are classified into several general species, which in turn are divided into many subspecies with interesting names.

• Dimetris (DS- "Fifa", DS- "Pink dreams", DS- "Smoke", DS- "I want and will be", DS- "Temptation", DS- "Gzhel", DS- "Shayk", DS- " Eternity ", DS-" Margarita ", DS-" Chicken ", DS-" Almandine ")

The most beautiful subspecies DS- "Fifa" is a small culture, refined and sophisticated, it practically does not show leaves for everyone to see, but it presents to the gaze huge pink inflorescences with a lilac bloom... Over time, the flowers become double and twist as if.

DS- "Pink Dreams" are no less beautiful. Large (up to 10 cm) double bright pink flowers with a delicate floral aroma. The upper flowers are slightly pinkish, the lower, the more crimson and deeper the color appears, completing all the beauty with bright green leaves.

The DS-"Smoke" variety is also great. An absolutely delicate bluish purple gift for any breeder.

The fancy name of the streptocarpus DS - “I want and will” confirms its fame, remaining popular among flower growers for several years now.

Sort DS-"Temptation" with a short standing flower stalk. It blooms very profusely, it is a terry variety of streptocarpus with a changeable color. Keeps flowers for a very long time, does not fall off, like other members of the family. It looks neat and elegant, decorates the premises more in the winter or autumn period, when the rest of the plants stop blooming.

DS- "Gzhel" - a laconic lilac representative of streptocarpus, with delicate flowers. They hold for a long time and do not fall off. Blossoming is continuous, all flowers are arranged in an elegant dense bouquet.

The most spectacular beauty DS-"Shayk" simply surprises with its originality and is quickly sold by flower growers. The bright wine-colored flowers form a neat rosette, double, exuding a light aroma. The inflorescences themselves are huge, reaching 9 cm, the color varies from Burgundy wine to scarlet velvet, sometimes speckled, with a daring fringe. The peduncle is long, strong stem perfectly holds a large bouquet, the rosette is neat and voluminous.

DS- "Eternity" appears to us quite differently. Streptocarpus has a different name for the seedling - 1212. Heavy 10-centimeter flowers have a bright red, sometimes terracotta color, the edges of the petals form waves that are half a tone darker, sometimes reaching pure black. Strong peduncle, long flowering for several months. Huge leaves of bright green color. The socket is flat.

DS- "Margarita" is one of the oldest and long-loved varieties of modern breeders, has been on the market for a long time and has been loved by many. A curly crimson flower with shiny leaves is decorated with many shuttlecocks and a white border. The petals are large, carved, heavy, but the peduncle is persistent. The rosette of the plant is large, and it blooms very profusely, delighting for a very long time.

Stunning lemon DS- "Chicken" got its name for a reason - it really looks like a cute chicken. Its beautiful yellow flowers reach 8-9 cm in size and are decorated with festive ruffles.

The magnificent DS-"Almandine" is very unpretentious in cultivation and pleases the eye with its showiness. Many peduncles, deep purple color with different half-tones, decorated with different dots and stripes, everywhere there are strokes and like droplets. Bright green leaves, narrow and neat rosette. A short but strong peduncle. Blossoms with a bouquet, flowers are pressed against each other. The variety was created in 2012.

• Demchenko (Dem- "Black Swan")

The most remarkable varieties of streptocarpus are displayed by Demchenko under the same name, although the abbreviation Dem can also be found under various numbers (Dem-68, Dem-135, and so on). Dem- "Black Swan" - the undisputed favorite among the rest. It has fringed, dark purple large flowers with ruffles along the edges of the petals. The rosette is of the correct shape.

• Valkova ("VaT-Bird", "VaT-Mandarinka", "VaT-Walk in the Autumn Park")

Breeder Valkova from Ukraine, the city of Shakhtersk, presented to the fans many wonderful varieties, such as "VaT-Mandarinka" and "VaT-Walk in the autumn park".

"VaT-Bird" blooms with large bright flowers of a mixed color. As a rule, it is deep purple on one side, and the other half is a pastel shade of purple or completely white. There are often specks and dots. The socket is heavy and strong. The top is almost always light, and dazzles downward. The edges of the petals are white or lemon shade. Large flowers grow in a neat armful.

"VaT-Mandarinka" is like "Bird", but it looks softer and no less elegant than its predecessor. Flower of different color on a powerful peduncle. The crimson bottom is framed by a light top. The petals fringe and exude a light scent.

The amazing name is “VaT-Walk in the Autumn Park”. A worthy variety with elegant flowers in delicate pastel shades. Light fringe, terry petals, have two colors. More often they bloom in pale pink on top and lemon speckled on the bottom.

• Statsenko ("EC-Milky Way")

Statsenko Elena displays beautiful views, and "Milky Way" is one of them. The whitest flowers in lilac specks simply amaze with their charm. On the edge of the petals, the dots are lighter. Medium stem with small leaves. This streptocarpus has large, intricate flowers that change color from pink to crimson.

• Sklyarova (UA- "Lime")

Sklyarov's streptocarpus is a popular variety "Lime" for all lovers of freshness. Has double flowers. At the base, the petals, like lime, are yellow-green, brighten above. Multi-flowered variety.

• Kleshchinsky (Listy, Perfect, Gina)

Breeder Petr Kleszynski from Poland has contributed the beauties Listy, Perfect, and Gina. All of them are united by the splendor of the inflorescences and the unusual crimson color, half of the flower is speckled, half is without.

Listy is an incomparable variety with a complex multifaceted color in several shades of raspberry. The petals cut strokes from the very base, decorated with fringes.

Streptocartus Perfect is a very long-flowering variety with large flowers. The aroma is exquisite, the colors from pale blue to light purple change during the flowering period. The rosette is also large, since the flowers reach 10 cm in diameter. Flowering begins early, and, as a rule, there are from 3 to 5 flowers in one peduncle.

The handsome streptocarpus Gina occupies a worthy place among its own kind, not only because of the exquisite aroma that it exudes, but also because of its unusual color. The huge flowers have wavy petals and corrugated edges. Several shades on one flower - the top is always lighter by a couple of tones from the crimson bottom. The lower petals have a lemon shade and a crimson mesh that smoothly turns into a thick border. Bright yellow stamens emerge from the center. The variety was bred in 2012.

Streptocarpus is one of the few plants whose color range is so varied and full decorating additions:

• white and beige;
• lilac, purple;
• red, wine, burgundy and raspberry;
• orange and yellow, melange;
• speckled, one half with color, and the other not, bordered and not, with patterns and tubercles, stripes and dots.

The petals also have a variety of shapes - round, oval, wavy. Few people can surprise with such a range, and even the most experienced flower growers never cease to admire these incredible ornamental plants.

All flowers have very multifaceted shades, overflows and transitions from one color to another. You will often notice that the top has light or even white shades, while the bottom is always darker. The lower part with an unusual design, not just in the form of a deeper color, but also with a mesh insert and bright ruffles. Often the petals are completed with a contrasting border, the waves are bent.

The leaves are always bright green, sometimes double, sometimes glossy-smooth to the touch. Sometimes the flower can literally divide the strokes into several parts, the petals resemble the shape of exotic birds, and these bizarre shapes give room for imagination. It is no coincidence that streptocarpus have the fame of fantasy plants. After all, it is never possible to unequivocally answer the question of what shape the flower has and what color the plant is. So complex and outlandish this Gesnerian.

There are a great many fantasy streptocarpus, and it is simply impossible to cover them all in one article. And yet, some are simply striking in their beauty and worthy of attention.

DS- "White Fluffy Animal" - a very bright and unusual flower from dimetris. The texture of the petals is velvety, and the color is so saturated that it is simply impossible to pass by.

Spectacular Spin Art.

Bristol's Pajama Party is very interesting.

How to care for streptocarpus is described in the next video