Streptocarpus saxorum (false African violet)

Japanese name: ストレプトカルプス サクソルム
Scientific name: Streptocarpus saxorum

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial.
The stems branch little and spread by creeping along the ground.
Young stems are succulent and densely covered with soft hairs.
The base of the stem becomes woody.
The leaves are simple, opposite or whorled, elliptic to ovate, about 4 cm long, succulent and soft.
The leaves are covered with soft hairs.
Cymes arise from the leaf axils in the upper part of the stem, and each slender flower stalk, about 10 cm long, bears 1–2 flowers.
The corolla is tubular, and its tip splits into 5 lobes in a two-lipped form, spreading to about 3–5 cm across; the 3 lower lobes are larger than the 2 upper lobes.
The tube is white, and the corolla lobes are pale wisteria-purple to purple.
There are 2 stamens and 2–3 staminodes.
If the temperature can be maintained, it flowers all year round.
The fruit is a capsule 8 cm long, twisted in a spiral.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division, stem cuttings, or leaf cuttings.
It prefers well-ventilated, well-drained soil.
From autumn to spring, place it in a sunny spot, and in summer in cool partial shade.
In winter, bring it indoors, for example to a windowsill.
It prefers slightly high air humidity, but dislikes soil that is too wet; long rains can cause root rot, so place it where it will not be rained on.
Water after the soil has dried, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
In dry periods, mist the leaves with a sprayer.
In spring and autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer.
Remove spent flowers promptly.
Pests and diseases include scale insects and spider mites.

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