Sinningia speciosa ‘Fyfiana’

Horticultural & Botanical History

The original Gloxinia fyfiana was figured in the Floricultural Cabinet in 1847 [FC p.49/1847] and Flore des Serres, the latter giving its probable origin as ‘Maxima’ crossed with an unknown parent, possibly ‘Caulescens’.  It was figured with white flowers, flushed blue in the throat.  [FS f.311/1848].

Perhaps the first detailed description was given in an advertisement from Drysdale and Co. of Glasgow in 'The Gardeners Chronicle' in October 1846: ‘This new and admired variety was raised from seed and bloomed for the first time in 1845.  The form and habit of the Flower is different from all former varieties, being equally round and large, supported on strong erect stems, standing perfectly upright like a cup or inverted bell.  When the blossoms expand they are white, with a slight tinge of purple outside; the throat is of a deep shaded purple all round, and at the lower part the ground colour is nearly the same as the outside, beautifully spotted with purple.’

History at Camden Park

Only recorded in a handwritten entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library and inscribed on the front Wm. Macarthur, 23rd Dec. 1854.  [ML635.9m].  Certainly grown in the gardens at this time.

Notes

Sinningia fyfiana is stated by some to be a hybrid of Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern and Gloxinia crassifolia Hort. or Gloxinia gigantea Hort., both of which are invalid names for varieties of Sinningia speciosa.