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The picture above shows my largest seedling, which is not yet blooming size, but probably will never get there -- it is not doing well as of August 2007. It may be one of those plants which is best appreciated in somebody else's garden.
Sinningia gigantifolia is a slow-growing plant with permanent "stump". Unlike (say) S. douglasii and S. leucotricha, which drop all their stems when they go dormant, and unlike S. reitzii and S. sp. "Black Hill", which retain the stem and may not have a real dormant period even though they have a tuber, S. gigantifolia drops most but not all of its stem. The length of the stem increases in length by a node or two every year.
This is a trait which S. gigantifolia shares with its relative S. cochlearis. As its name implies, S. gigantifolia has large leaves, but so does S. cochlearis when grown well. Neither species thrives under my conditions, but Jon Dixon has good results with both.
The picture at the right shows the inflorescence of a plant grown by Jon Dixon and entered in the San Francisco chapter's flower show in late August 2005. Jon also exhibited a hybrid between this plant and S. sp. "Black Hill".
The table below summarizes some differences between Sinningia gigantifolia and Sinningia cochlearis.
| Attribute | S. gigantifolia | S. cochlearis |
|---|---|---|
| Width of corolla tube relative to length | narrow | broad |
| Inflorescence | Wiry, almost black peduncles and pedicels | Green peduncles and pedicels |
| Size of bracts on inflorescence | Bracts minute or absent | Distinct bracts subtending peduncles |
| Plant Description | |
|---|---|
| Attribute | Information |
| Growth | Indeterminate |
| Habit | Stem upright, with alternate leaves (unusual for sinningia). |
| Leaves | heart-shaped, dark green on top, maroon on back. Bases overlap when young |
| Dormancy | Leaves deciduous (obligate). Stems incompletely deciduous (see below). |
| Flowering | |
| Attribute | Information |
| Season | Blooms in late summer |
| Inflorescence | Terminal peduncle |
| Flower | Red, tubular |
| Horticultural Aspects | |
| Attribute | Information |
| Hardiness | I have no data yet |
| Botany | |
| Attribute | Information |
| Taxonomic group | In a subgroup with S. cochlearis within the Sinningia clade. |
See also the S. gigantifolia page on Mauro Peixoto's web site.
Chautems, 1990.
Based on Gesneria discolor, published by Lindley, 1841.
Etymology: Latin gigant- ("giant", nom. sing. gigas) + -folia ("leaf").