Sinningia guttata

Sinningia guttata is one of my favourite gesneriads, and a plant I must have in my collection at all times. I grew it years ago successfully, until I lost it. Feeling forlorn, I really didn't have an opportunity to get another one until last year. My dear friend Vincent bought some gesneriads from The Violet Barn in the US, and surprised me with a plant of S. guttata. I was smitten again.  It bloomed but I almost lost it. I changed the soil and cut back part of the stem after minimal flowering to encourage compact growth and hoped for the best. Well, it started growing nicely, and this year has taken off like gangbusters. This is another of the Brazilian beauties as I like to call them. Most Sinningia species come from the Atlantic rainforest, and rocky savannah of Brazil. The flowers are simply marvelous with numerous magenta spots or freckles as I like to call them.