Streptocarpus johannis Seeds - Indigenous South African Endemic Perennial Houseplant

Streptocarpus johannis Seeds

Port St Johns Streptocarpus, Cape Primrose

A popular houseplant, Streptocarpus, is an Afrotropical genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus is native to Afromontane biotopes from central, eastern and southern Africa, including Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. The flowers are five-petalled. In the wild, species can be found growing on shady rocky hillsides or cliffs, on the ground, in rock crevices, and almost anywhere the seed can germinate and grow. Although generally referred to simply as "Streptocarpus", or "Streps", the common name for subgenus Streptocarpus is Cape Primrose, referring to the nativity of several species to South Africa and their superficial resemblance to the unrelated genus Primula. The genus name Streptocarpus originates from the Greek words streptos, meaning ‘twisted’ and carpus, meaning ‘fruit’, alluding to the general description of twisted seed capsules of these plants. Streptocarpus has approximately 51 species found in South Africa. Streptocarpus johannis, commonly known as Port St Johns Streptocarpus, is a South African endemic species. A rewarding pot plant with a cluster of whitish to pale violet, flat-faced summer flowers and soft green leaves, that can be grown indoors or in a sheltered spot outdoors. Steptocarpus johannis occurs naturally in forests, growing in soil banks or on rocks and occurs from the coast to altitudes of 1650 m. Occurs from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal.