Sinningia warmingii

1. Calyx
2. Horticultural requirements
3. Going underground
4. Feature table
5. Publication and etymology

Sinningia warmingii is usually a tall plant, with the flowers being borne at the top of the stem.  It is easy to grow as long as it gets enough water and sunlight.

Calyx

The distinctive red calyxes can be seen in the picture to the right.

Horticultural requirements

Despite its apparent need for lots of light, Sinningia warmingii is something of a watering wimp.  At least when growing in pots, my plants tend to wilt as soon as the soil dries out just a little bit, and the leaves burn when the weather is hot.  Sinningia leucotricha looks delicate, but it is actually lots tougher than S. warmingii.

See the drought-tolerance comparison table.

Going underground

On 7 December 2006, I was preparing to move a pot of S. warmingii into its winter quarters for a sleep of several months when I noticed green shoots around the rim of the pot.  When I knocked the plant out of the pot, this is what I saw.

Rhizomes!  Not only that, frustrated rhizomes.  They had been trying to expand their horizons, only to meet the impenetrable barrier of the plastic pot.  So around they went until finally giving up and coming to the surface.

One implication of this underground activity is that everyone should have a plant of this species.  Assuming, that is, that it can be propagated from a rhizome -- which I will know soon, having planted one of them.

Stay tuned.

Feature table for Sinningia warmingii

Publication

As Gesnera warmingii by Hiern, in 1877.
As Sinningia warmingii by Chautems, in 1990.