Streptocarpus ionanthus ssp. grotei

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  • Previous Name: Saintpaulia grotei
  • Photographer: Ron Myhr
  • Grown by: Maureen Pratt

Images copyright by the individual photographers or their institutions.


Streptocarpus ionanthus ssp. grotei is a complex and varied taxon, with several identified varieties and named clones. The feature image above is properly fully identified as Str. ionanthus ssp. grotei cl. confusa, but is representative of the group. It was exhibited at The Gesneriad Society’s 2016 convention show.

In general, ssp. grotei is a trailing plant with relatively thin stems and toothed leaves. Flowers range from medium to light blue, and are moderately floriferous, with bloomstalks held above the foliage. It is an ancestor of most of the trailing hybrid African Violets in cultivation.

Several former Saintpaulia species have been subsumed within Str. ionanthus ssp. grotei. These include Saintpaulia amanensis Saintpaulia confususSaintpaulia difficilis, Saintpaulia grotei and Saintpaulia magungensis.