Sinningia ‘Esther’ is an unusual and potentially dramatic plant. It has peloric (radially symmetrical) flowers and produces multiple smallish crowns. This allows the development of a fine head of foliage, with the bright red flowers held above the leaves.
Parentage is unknown; the hybrid was created by a now deceased member of the Long Island Gesneriad Society. Seed was received by Sherman Paur, who grew it on, selected the best seedling and named it after his wife of 40 years.
S. ‘Esther’ has some of the characteristics of Sinningia cardinalis and its peloric forms, but is much smaller.
Additional photos may be seen in a slideshow by clicking one of the links below:
- A show plant exhibited at the 2017 show of the Long Island Gesneriad Society, where it won runner-up to Best In Show
- A plant exhibited in the 2020 virtual show of the Gesneriad Society
- A fairly large plant just coming into full flower
- The flowers have five stamens, with the anthers fused in a ring
- A messy ungroomed plant illustrates the floriferous potential of the cultivar
