About
Harlequin Blue' is a compact cultivar with short flower stems to 4.4cm and neat leaves. Shortlisted for Chelsea Plant of the Centenary in 2013 for the decade 2003-2012. Winner of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year in 2010. Flowers are characteristic with yellow lower lobes, which hold their colour well, soft blue upper lobes and very dark purple lines in the throat defining the extent of the two colours.
About the genus
Streptocarpus can be annuals, perennials or subshrubs, with usually wrinkled, lance-shaped to rounded leaves and clusters of tubular to trumpet-shaped flowers with 5 spreading lobes, often borne throughout the year
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeHouseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow as a houseplant in free-draining compost on an east or west-facing windowsill, or grow in a temperate or warm greenhouse in bright filtered light with shade from hot sun. Water sparingly as compost dries in winter and in the growing season water freely allowing compost to dry out between waterings; feed fortnightly with a high-potassium fertiliser. See Streptocarpus cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed or leaf cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse leafhoppers, mealybugs, thrips, vine weevil and tarsonemid mite
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds (botrytis) or powdery mildews