Gloxinia speciosa

The Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) is a tuberous species of tropical origin and is therefore often grown as a houseplant. With its unique and refined elegance, it is prized for its dark, velvety leaves, which set off its single or double flowers in shades of white, blue, pink or red. Indoors, it should be placed in a spot with good light but out of direct sunlight, preferably in a well-ventilated room, to prolong the flowering period, which typically lasts a few months. There are early-flowering, compact varieties as well as late-flowering, vigorous ones.

After a period of vegetative growth, provided the correct growing conditions are maintained, it will flower again in late spring, as the days grow longer.

With high temperature requirements throughout the entire growing cycle, it requires very light-filled structures, such as glasshouses, and thermally efficient facilities to ensure that cultivation is viable.