Streptocarpus montigena has a very limited distribution restricted to the upper slopes of the Katberg, the Elandsberg and the Winterberg Mountains of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. These inland areas get very cold in winter, with one or two snowfalls on these high peaks every year. The localities are remote and do not have good roads leading to where they grow. The species grows on steep cliff faces in rock clefts amongst grass clumps which often give them some protection against sunlight, and they almost always grow in sunlight and not in protected gorges or forests.
Streptocarpus montigena is a typical rosulate species with medium sized leathery leaves with a compact growth habit. Leaves grow to 300 x 100 mm. The species is quite free flowering with up to 12 flowers open at the same time. The flowers are funnel-shaped, 40-53 mm long, wider at the mouth (8-10 mm), with lobes that are 7-10 x 7-10 mm. The flowers are a pale mauve with a creamy colour inside the tube. On the floor of the corolla all flowers have a yellow stripe which forks into two elliptical yellow patches on the lower lip but do not extend into the lower corolla lobes.
Hilliard and Burtt (1971) speculated that the species may have evolved from a hybrid of S. meyeri and S. rexii, both of which grow in the area. Natural hybrids between S. montigena and S. rexii have been found and cultivated. The subtle colour and small size of this species, should make it attractive to horticulturists.
