“I absolutely adore cape primrose as a houseplant — they're so easy to care for and produce these gorgeous clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in stunning purples, pinks, lavenders, whites, and blues,…”
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
I absolutely adore cape primrose as a houseplant — they're so easy to care for and produce these gorgeous clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in stunning purples, pinks, lavenders, whites, and blues, often with the most beautiful contrasting veins.
Common name:Cape primrose
Botanical name:Streptocarpus
Flowers: Tall stems carry clusters of trumpet-shaped, vibrant flowers that bloom periodically through most of the year in the most luminous colors. These close cousins of African violets can produce spiral seedpods — I always remove those to encourage even more blooms.
Foliage: I love how Streptocarpus have these long, velvety, deep green leaves that form gorgeous rosettes beneath the tall flower stems.
Habit: These lovelies can grow up to 12 to 15 inches tall and wide — a nice, manageable size for indoors.
Season: With a little TLC, cape primrose will happily thrive and bloom through any season — they just keep on giving.
Origin: Originally discovered in South Africa — and they also grow naturally in Madagascar. How exotic!
How to grow streptocarpus as a houseplant: Cape primrose loves well-drained, fertile soil and bright, indirect sunlight — but be careful, direct sun can make them wither. In my experience, they thrive in warm, dry spots with ideal temperatures between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. I water when the top inch of soil feels dry and cut back in winter; too much water easily causes rot. Feed with liquid fertilizer during spring and summer. I've found they do best when repotted each spring. You can propagate cape primrose by leaf cuttings — it's easier than you'd think!
