Pretty oldie but I'm not certain this is the true Neptune which has dark flowers and generally much darker foliage. Perhaps it is the camera or my computer. For a long time, Neptune has been the victim of identity theft most likely by a variety named Woodland Sprite. Sadly this plant has been sold and shown as Neptune. Fortunately, the real Neptune has been kept going by a few devoted AV lovers and is now available from a few sources.

Ahhh, yes, it does feel restful no matter what the name. Thanks ! Rosie

This is beautiful! Very simple... I love the simple pansy.

Then you need to look into Saintpaulia species. There is a special charm in these wild plants. Plus we are preserving the species that are disappearing in their natural habitat. Baron Saint Paul fell in love with single blue beauties - not with overbred dahlia size ones...

Hmmmm, maybe I will look into some of those. Now where is that darn Wish List? Rosie

Irena, I have Grandifolia 299 but I know I'm not able to help it reach its full potential! She stays small for me... And then languishes so I have to restart her. Makes me scared to try another species variety :)

I have S. rupicola, it blooms all the time. I also got mixed up about the plant called Neptune a few years ago. I ordered it, then later also ordered Woodland Sprite and they are actually the same plant, I think. So I did some reading up on it and saw all the questions regarding the true ID of Neptune. Last summer I went to an AV show in Atlanta and saw S. grandifolia 237 and it looked exactly like both "neptune" and Woodland Sprite. But anyway, Woodland Sprite is a wonderful plant and certainly has that species look.

I think Neptune from the windowsill is most probably it - provided with higher light - it will grow a tighter rosette - and think what soil mix our oldtimers used - garden loam and cow manure - so the plant from the old book was overfed from our standards.

So nice to have it back!!!

Yes, that is wonderful, I hope this will clear this up about Neptune.

When I went to the show in Atlanta and saw S. Grandifolia 237, I was certain it had to have some connection to Woodland Sprite. Here is the picture I took.

I am here with you . Since at some point I had both - Woodland Sprite has someway larger and thicker leaves - like 237 on steroids. I let WS go - prefer to have more species. S.grandifolia #237 is pretty much unkillable. But I think the best species to start with will be S. grotei Silvert clone. It is non stop blooming semi trailer.

I.

Will have to try S. grotei Silvert, Irina.

Woodland Sprite is also unkillable, it comes right back no matter what. I think I take it for granted, lol.

Are there any pink or white or light blue species? Love hearing the advice about which ones are good ones to grow... :)

Also... Are pixie blue and pixie pink species? That's prob Just a dumb newby question. :P

Oh Sue,,,,the only "dumb" question is the one NOT asked !!!! Ask anything. Believe me,,,,there will be more than one person grateful to read the answer!!! Rosie

No - Pixie Blue and Pixie Pink are both hybrids - but they are early trailing hybrids - so they probably have a lot of trailing species in a background.

Out of what I grow - S. velutina lite is white with blue eye, shapes itself like a bloomstalk in my culture...yucky to interesting. S.diplotricha Parker is an excellent small standard with very pale lilac, almost white flowers. It won Best in Show on Albuquerque Convention.

I love S. orbicularis var. purpurea. It has small dark royal blue abundant flowers, easy to grow and tons of blossoms.

S. diplotricha Parker

Saintpa