Gloxinia is a genus of three species of tropical rhizomatous herbs in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. The plant has a variety of hybrids including Gloxinia sonata.
A few years ago, a gloxinia flowering houseplant was considered a perennial;the plants would bloom and then die back. After a period of dormancy, the plant would regrow, delighting its owner with a fresh flush of big, velvety flowers. Today’s gloxinias are hybrids bred to quickly produce a large number of blossoms. These gloxinias produce an outstanding display for about two months, but once the flowers fade, the plant rarely comes back because it invests all its energy into flowers rather than sturdy roots. Therefore, these plants are best grown as annuals, and since they are discarded after the bloom cycle, gloxinia flower care focuses on keeping the plant looking fresh while it is in bloom. These plants are available in a rich range of colors - red, burgundy, pink, white, violet and purple. Some varieties have blooms edged in white, or have a contrasting spotted throat color.
