Common Name: false sinningia
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Gesneriaceae
Native Range: China
Zone: 7 to 9
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: White with purple spotted throats
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Heavy Shade
Culture
Easily grown in moist but well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Best with consistent moisture during the growing season. Plants are winter hardy to at least USDA Zones 7-9, but may be grown in USDA Zone 6 in protected locations. In optimum growing conditions, plants will spread rapidly by rhizomes to form colonies, but are not considered to be invasive.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hemiboea subcapitata, sometimes commonly called false sinningia, is an upright, mounding, herbaceous perennial of the gesneriad family (Sinningia, African violet, Gloxinia). It typically grows to 12-18” tall but spreads to 24” wide on more on thick, glossy, dark green leaves (each to 8-12” long) which resemble the leaves of some hostas. In optimum growing conditions, plants will spread rapidly by rhizomes to 4-5’ wide over the first 2-3 years. This plant is native to montane slopes, shaded wet forest valleys and moist woodland areas in central to southeastern China. Tubular, 2-inch long, white (sometimes flushed pink) flowers with purple spotting in the throat bloom in clusters (cymes) of 3-10 flowers in July-August.
Synonymus with H. henryi.
Genus name comes from the Latin word hemi meaning half and from Boea (another genus of plants in the Gesneriaceae family).
Specific epithet of subcapitata from Latin means growing in a loose head.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Woodland gardens. Shady landscape areas.