Dircaea blassii Regel

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Dircaea blassii is by far the most magnificent of the tribe, and for its introduction we appear to be indebted to M. Kraemp, an enthusiastic and very successful cultivator at Holbocken, near Antwerp, at whose sale the stock was purchased by M. Van Houtte, in whose establishment at Ghent it has bloomed, and where, says that gentleman, “a specimen plant of extraordinary size has excited admiration of all who have beheld it.  This plant at the present moment bears fifteen pendent stems, each more than seven feet in length, carrying upwards of one hundred and fifty flowering branches, which bear altogether from fifteen hundred to two thousand lovely blossoms.”  The colour of the latter is a clear, velvety, orange-red, the throat being paler, and the foliage a rich green. […] We are compelled to add our tribute of admiration to this extraordinary plant, which we rank as one of the most promising additions of late introduced to European gardens, and deserving a place wherever the necessary accommodation for its growth can be afforded.’  [FC p.1/1857]. 

Van Houtte figured it in Flore des Serres.  [FS f.1140-1141/1856].  ‘The new drooping G. Blassi was also in bloom.  This will be found to be a useful addition to the class of plants to which it belongs’.  [Gard. Chron. 1857].

History at Camden Park

Listed only as an addendum to the 1857 catalogue [A.53/1857].

Notes

Considered by some to be a pendant form of Sinningia magnifica (Otto & Dietrich) Wiehler or Sinningia cooperi (Paxt.) Wiehler.  [www.gesneriads.ca].