Overview

Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' (AV) is a clump forming conservatory greenhouse in the genus Streptocarpus, part of the Gesneriaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' (AV) grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H1c. Suggested uses include houseplants and conservatory and greenhouse.

About

Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' is a clump-forming Streptocarpus in the Gesneriaceae grown as a conservatory and houseplant, flowering from June to October. It tolerates full sun or partial shade and suits sheltered south-, east- or west-facing positions. The plant prefers moist but well-drained loam or sandy compost and will tolerate acid to alkaline soils. Leaves are deciduous, so expect seasonal leaf dieback.

About the genus

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, salverform tubes, almost orchid-like in appearance, and hover or arch over the plant, while the pointed, elongate fruit is of a helical form similar to that of the "tusk" of a narwhal.

Wikipedia contributors, "Streptocarpus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Streptocarpus

In the garden

Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' is a conservatory and houseplant member of the Gesneriaceae, grown for its seasonal display of flowers through the summer and into autumn (June to October). It forms compact clumps and is treated as an indoor or greenhouse specimen in the UK rather than an outdoor border plant. Place the plant where it receives bright light: full sun is acceptable if filtered, otherwise a position in partial shade suits it. A sheltered aspect is important—south-, east- or west-facing windows and conservatory benches give the light the plant needs while protecting it from cold winds. Use a soil based on loam or sand that remains moist but drains freely; Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' tolerates acid, neutral or alkaline pH so ordinary potting mixes amended with grit or horticultural sand will work. This cultivar is classed H1c (tender) so it should remain under cover through colder months and is best kept as a houseplant or in a heated greenhouse or conservatory. As the foliage is deciduous, expect seasonal dieback after flowering; plan display and placement so flowering from June to October is visible from the room or greenhouse bench where it spends the season.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Streptocarpus

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H1c

Plant details

Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' (AV) size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Houseplants, Conservatory and greenhouse

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Streptocarpus 'Aly's Rosy Baby' (AV)

Propagation

Leaf cuttings, Seed, Division

Pest resistance

Aphids, Glasshouse leafhopper, Mealybug, Tarsonemid mites

Disease resistance

Botrytis, Powdery mildew

Frequently asked questions

More in the Streptocarpus genus

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• Streptocarpus floribundus
• Streptocarpus thompsonii