Streptocarpus Collection (cape primrose collection) £34.99
Position: partial shade Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil or fibre-based compost if grown indoors Rate of growth: average Flowering period: usually throughout the year Hardiness: tender (will need to be over-wintered indoors, or in a shaded greenhouse) Grown for their showy flowers, which come in a wide range of colours, these tender perennials make superb houseplants. They will flower from mid-spring to mid-autumn and tend to bloom more prolifically when slightly pot-bound. Mainly originating from woodland, rocky slopes and grassland in southern Africa, they require a frost-free position with filtered sun. Water regularly during the growing season, allowing the compost to get a little dry in-between, during this time they should also be fed with a high potash fertiliser. Overwinter in a shaded greenhouse, or indoors on an south or west-facing windowsill, watering less often. Repot each spring into a slightly larger, shallow pot filled with fibre based compost. They can also be used as summer bedding, grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. In this collection you will receive one of each of the following varieties. Streptocarpus ‘D S Horus’: Strong stems support the giant-sized, slightly ruffled flowers that open a rich yellow, but fade to a soft pink as they age. Height: 40cm. Streptocarpus ‘Falling Stars’: Dainty sky blue flowers appear in profusion putting on a really showy display. Hailed as ‘one of our best’ by the breeder Dibleys, it is ear;y flowering and easy to grow. Height: 30cm. Streptocarpus ‘Scarlett’: Masses of vibrant scarlet flowers, each with a darker plum eye top the stems that rise above mid-green foliage. Height: 30cm. Streptocarpus ‘Marion’: New for 2015, this white and blue-flowering sport (of ‘Katie’) has an exceptionally long flowering season and a neat and tidy habit. Height: 40cm. Streptocarpus ‘Caitlin’: Hairy wrinkled leaves form a neat basal rosette, which is topped with an abundance of upright branching stems bearing two-tone pink flowers. Height: 40cm. Streptocarpus ‘Supernova’: Small bicoloured sky-blue and deep purple flowers appear in large numbers for up to 10 months of the year, making this a real showstopper. Height: 30cm. Garden care: Water regularly during the growing season, allowing the compost to get a litt