How to Grow Streptocarpus Concord Blue
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Streptocarpus Concord Blue
Streptocarpus × hybridus 'Concord Blue'
flowerStreptocarpus 'Concord Blue' is a hybrid Cape primrose featuring striking deep blue-purple flowers with darker vein markings and yellow-throated centers. This compact herbaceous perennial produces rosettes of soft, fuzzy green leaves and blooms prolifically when given proper care. It is primarily grown as a tender houseplant in temperate climates.
When should you plant Streptocarpus Concord Blue in your zone?
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Example Streptocarpus Concord Blue timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Streptocarpus Concord Blue
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Streptocarpus Concord Blue blooms
Around Aug 15≈ 120 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Streptocarpus Concord Blue dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives outdoors year-round in zones 10b-11; grown as a houseplant elsewhere
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Seed Germination
10-14 daysTiny seeds germinate on moist soil surface with light exposure; first cotyledons emerge in 10-14 days
Maintain 65-75°F temperature; provide consistent moisture and bright indirect light; use bottom heat (65-70°F) to encourage germination; keep soil surface moist with misting or humidity dome
Seedling & Establishment
4-6 weeksTrue leaves develop; seedlings form small rosettes; roots establish in growing medium
Maintain high humidity (60-70%); provide bright indirect light 12+ hours daily; avoid wetting fuzzy leaves; keep soil consistently moist; provide good air circulation to prevent damping-off
Vegetative Growth
8-12 weeksPlant expands its rosette of elongated, soft, fuzzy green leaves; increases in size and leaf production
Provide bright indirect light; maintain warm temperatures (65-75°F); feed with dilute, balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks; ensure good drainage and air circulation; avoid leaf crowding
Flowering
6-8+ weeks (can rebloom with proper care)Flower buds emerge from leaf axils; distinctive deep blue-purple flowers with yellow throats bloom sequentially; multiple flower stems may be present
Maintain bright light (prevent flowering slowing); continue feeding with balanced or bloom-boosting fertilizer; provide consistent moisture without waterlogging; remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming; maintain 60-72°F nights for best color
Mature & Maintenance
Indefinite with proper careEstablished plant maintains rosette form, produces flowers continuously or seasonally; may develop multiple growth points
Prune out dead leaves and spent flower stems; refresh soil annually or as needed; divide crowded plants in spring; reduce watering slightly in winter; maintain humidity and bright indirect light year-round
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Remove with damp cloth or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap; isolate affected plants; repeat treatment every 7-10 days as needed
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap; improve air circulation; reduce overwatering
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Increase humidity to 60%+; spray with water or neem oil; use insecticidal soap; ensure adequate air circulation; discard severely infested plants
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Allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; apply sand layer over soil; improve drainage; use bottom watering
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Improve air circulation; avoid wetting foliage; reduce humidity slightly; remove affected plant parts; discard severely infected plants; apply sulfur dust or fungicide if severe
Uses
Indoor ornamental houseplant
HouseholdStreptocarpus 'Concord Blue' is an ideal houseplant for bright windowsills, bathrooms, and humid indoor environments, adding vibrant blue-purple color to living spaces. [source]
Terrarium & controlled environment decoration
HouseholdIts preference for high humidity and compact growth makes it well-suited for terrariums, plant cabinets, and under fluorescent grow lights where a humid microclimate is maintained. [source]
Pollinator-friendly indoor plant
WildlifeThe tubular flowers attract pollinators including small insects and hummingbirds in outdoor growing zones, supporting local ecosystem health. [source]
Breeding & hybridization material
CraftStreptocarpus cultivars like 'Concord Blue' are actively bred and hybridized by plant enthusiasts and commercial growers to develop new colors and improved traits. [source]
Ethnobotanical interest
MedicinalWhile not commonly used medicinally, wild Streptocarpus species have been traditionally used in African indigenous medicine; modern Streptocarpus hybrids are valued for their ornamental properties and horticultural significance. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
This is an ornamental flower plant; no harvest per se. Deadhead spent blooms by gently pinching off flower stems to encourage continuous flowering. Cut flower stems are short-lived in arrangements but can be enjoyed indoors for 3-5 days. For seed collection, allow a few flowers to go unpruned; seed pods will develop over 4-6 weeks and can be collected when dry and papery.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'Streptocarpus' derives from Greek words meaning 'twisted fruit,' referring to the characteristic coiled seed pods that spiral as they dry.
- 🌱 Cape primroses are not true primroses but belong to the Gesneriaceae family, which also includes African violets, gloxinias, and episcias—making them relatives of many popular houseplants.
- 🌱 Some Streptocarpus species can produce flowers for 8-12 months continuously under ideal conditions with bright light and consistent care, earning them the nickname 'perpetual bloomers.'
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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