Cape Primrose
Streptocarpus hybridus
Prolific flowering houseplant with velvety leaves and trumpet-shaped blooms in blue, purple, pink, red, or white. Flowers from spring through to autumn on a bright windowsill. Easier to grow than it looks.
Best rooms for cape primrose
Light requirements
Best near a window with filtered light — avoid harsh direct rays.
How to care for cape primrose
Bright windowsill out of direct midday sun. Water from below when the compost surface dries. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering. Feed fortnightly with a high-potash fertiliser when in flower. Rest in winter with less water. Minimum 10°C.
Watering
Water when the top 2–3cm of compost feels dry. Roughly weekly.
Propagation
- Leaf cuttings
- Division
- Seed
Toxicity
This plant is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.
Common problems
- Mealybugs in leaf crevices
- Crown rot from overhead watering
- Reduced flowering in low light
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