Remember this two years from now . I was the first to tell you that the Gloxinia is back . It ’s big , awesome and nothing at all like the older Gloxinia of 1960 . But really ? Gloxinias from the land of Kielbasa , Pierogi and Vodka ? Oh yeah baby … .. Read on . This is big news for us industrial plant geeks .
As our weather condition here in the NE begins to plough truly wintry , with our first snowfall on radio detection and ranging arriving tomorrow morning , I ca n’t help oneself by think about quondam fashioned family plants , and for some reason I relate african violets and their relatives the Streptocarpus with winter indoor horticulture . African Violets , Streptocarpus and perhaps Gloxinia , if I could find squeamish and interesting forms . Typically I would have grown Gloxinia as a summer crop , as my parents would – creating displays on our front porch plant stand that would last for a distich of calendar month , but recently , these plants have vanish in the trade . Only sometimes showing up as houseplants near the Holidays .
It wait like that has all change , and it all started with African Violets and Russia .
African Violets , Streptocarpus , and their kin have been pet for about 150 years , but like many commercially grown crop , the varieties ground today are mass produced , and rather boring . If you do n’t consider me , just look at the more interesting extract found at the handful of aggregator greenhouse ( posted at the end with link ) who specialise in exposition potpourri . Or good yet , spend some time on theGesneriad Society ( America ) web site . A few years ago , young Russian varieties started show up with a few quality nursery , and on the bench at gesneriad lodge shows – but as I surfed the profit for some more interesting Streps , I key out that this easterly European trend as moved on to other plant life . Streptocarpus and now the Florist Gloxinia are showing up in Europe and even in America , some with unbelievable color and intricate patterning . All thanks to growers and collector in Eastern Europe who are making tremendous footstep in innovation with these species and more .
As African Violets seem to progress , at least with some collector varieties trying to engender yellow flowering physique , and more variegated leaved forms , the Streptocarpus , or the Cape Primrose , those floppy - leaved African relatives of our dear violets , have remained pretty un - touched . For the past 20 year , the finest varieties being bred and exhibit in England , by a fine nursery calledDibley ’s , renown for many Gesneriads , but particularly the streptococcus ’s , as their many lover call them . Today , many of the Dibley and Bristol forms are becoming available from a few nursery ( Logee ’s , and a few others ) , but few new varieties have been introduced recently , so most accumulator have all of their favourite , that is , until collector and breeders in Poland and the Ukraine came onto the globular scene .
Suddenly , some very interesting form from Eastern Europe are come to grocery store , a few being made available on eBay ( ascertain each week ) and others being carry by a few nurseries ( when they have them in blood ) . I am arouse again , as newfangled lineage means newfangled genetic mutations and new colors will be coming . The time to come count bright for Streptocarpus , and I ca n’t wait to get some of these new sort .
Yes folks , I am going to drop a line about the Gloxinia for a mo – the florist Gloxinia which was so common years ago , but which has virtually disappeared from our windowsill and plant displays . I have been searching for selection for years now , but all I could find would be one or two varieties . Without demand some prison term to check back a few years , I know I ’ve waxed on about the lack of Gloxinia tubers uncommitted in the trade . I mean , there was a time when every spring one could find box of Gloxinia tubers ( bulbs ) at nursery for pot up to make summertime potted plant life for displays on front porch , and northern screen in porches .
A classic potted plant , large , floppy leaved and giant bloom Gloxinia were once a received florist industrial plant – at one of my first jobs at a greenhouse during high shoal , I remember transfer hundreds of cum - fire plants designate for the Boston bloom market , but for nearly 20 years , they have about disappear , with the last American flora rearing program default on a few years ago , and large Dutch summer bulb distributor not carrying them any longer .
The heavy Gloxinia is really a member of a very popular and collectible genus of gesneriad called the Siningias . A broad genus , there are many forms , with some so small , that they can grow in a thimble ( you do remember those , do n’t you ? ) and other species that are so collectible that they cross over into collections of cacti and succulents , geophytes and caudex plants . But the giant queen regnant of the genus is the hybrid love commonly as the Florist Gloxinia . maven of the encompassing , windy straight-laced porches in summer , where displays , often tiered on ledge and step , were a common site along side flouncy tuberous begonias and ferns . Today , the Florist Gloxinia is as punishing to find as any rare orchid .
But things are change fast thanks to our plant friends in Eastern Europe . As recently as last year , new and very exciting introductions of the larger Gloxinia , as well as many small conformation are becoming available from Hungary , Romania , Russia and in particular , the Ukraine . Over the next few years , I expect many of these new choice to appear on display shelf and even our windowsill . Some are already available though eBay and some nurseries .
front for these and many new selections fall from Asia presently . It ’s been hard to find entropy on these and other introductions , as many of the sites are either in Russian or Japanese , so I am loose for any steer , hints or connection . Sorry if I used any images without permission ( just let me know ) , but I think I was able to accredit everyone in some means ! .
For more info : Google Piotr Kleszcynski and the AVSE
For Streptocarpus and African Violets ( and other gesneriads)Try theViolet Barnfor Streptocarpus or eBay ( at your own risk , but I have done well).Also tryLyndon Lyon Greenhouses – I have order from them for the preceding 5 year . Nice .
Check out theAfrican Violet Society of Europe’sAVSE Forumfor fantabulous and up - to - date selective information , as well as some very good mail service on these young Polish and Russian varieties .
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