Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' (Cape Primrose) — Clump forming

Overview

Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' is a clump forming conservatory greenhouse in the genus Streptocarpus, part of the Gesneriaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' 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 'Midnight Flame' is a clump-forming Streptocarpus cultivar grown for glasshouse and indoor display and noted for its seasonal flowering. The rosette-forming plant is deciduous and thrives where conditions are moist but well-drained. It prefers full sun to partial shade on a south-, east- or west-facing, sheltered position and flowers from June to October. Hardiness is classed H1c, so it is best kept under cover or as a houseplant.

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 'Midnight Flame' belongs to the Gesneriaceae and is supplied as a conservatory and houseplant cultivar that forms compact clumps of foliage. It is deciduous and intended for display under glass or on a protected windowsill rather than left outdoors overnight in the UK, with its main interest coming from the summer-to-autumn flowering season between June and October. Give 'Midnight Flame' a free-draining but moisture-retentive mix based on loam or sand; it tolerates acid, neutral or alkaline pH so standard potting mixes are suitable if kept slightly open and airy. Site the plant in full sun to partial shade on a south-, east- or west-facing aspect where it will be sheltered from strong winds and cold drafts. Maintain a consistently moist but well-drained root environment and avoid waterlogging. As a conservatory subject or houseplant, place Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' where the blooms are visible from a window or seating area; it is not winter-hardy outdoors in the UK and is classed as tender (H1c). Its clump-forming habit makes it straightforward to display in individual pots or grouped on a greenhouse bench to concentrate flowering impact from June to October.

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 'Midnight Flame' 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 'Midnight Flame'

Propagation: Leaf cuttings, Seed, Division
Pest resistance: Aphids, Glasshouse leafhopper, Mealybug, Tarsonemid mites
Disease resistance: Botrytis, Powdery mildew

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to plant Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame'?

Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' need?

Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' grows best in loam and sand soil. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.

Is Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' hardy in the UK?

Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame' has an RHS hardiness rating of H1c, meaning it needs a warm, frost-free position of 5–10°C and is best grown under glass in the UK.

How do I propagate Streptocarpus 'Midnight Flame'?

Leaf cuttings, Seed, Division.

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