Years ago, and I'm talking over 36 years ago, a lady I worked at the hospital with gave me a lovely plant she called a chocolate soldier. It had stunning foliage and lovely red blooms. I loved it and kept it for years. I finally lost it, but have never found another. I now know it is in this family of plants. It made me think of an African violet. I would love to buy a cutting, or trade some purple Achiminee bulbs. There are also other kinds than the one she had, I'd love to have some other kinds as well. Thanks.

It's an episcia. A nice one. I never grew it myself, but a friend grew it for many years. I've seen it available at different times. I think a search might turn up a seller, but it will likely be a specialty vendor, not a general plant tradesman. Maybe someone here will know or possibly even grow it.
The photo is from the database here on ATP.

Oh, my! That's the plant Donald! Even after all these years, I recognize it like it was yesterday. What a beauty. Thank you.

This was one of my first houseplants, my aunt gave me a stolon. When the weather warms, remind me and I'll send you some stolons. It's a lovely, easily-grown plant. I have quite a few cultivars.

Oh Celene, God bless you! I have looked and looked at every nursery for these beauties! I have so longed for some. I will certainly get in contact with you say around mid March??

I had Episcia Chocolate Soldier years ago and I agree it sure is a pretty one with those red flowers against that gorgeous foliage! I really love the Episcias with the pink leaves too.

One of these days I might get back to growing gesneriads again but my problem is wanting one of every cultivar I see and I usually end up with a dozen or more different AV's, Episcias, Sinningias, Chiritas, etc. They can be addictive LOL and I'm getting old and my attention span is so short anymore I really know I won't take proper care of a lot of them. I have a couple of noid AV's from Walmart and I still have Chirita (Metapetrocosmea tamiana) that I got in a trade in 2007. It's growing in a terrarium; and to me it's the easiest gesneriad ever. I do nothing for it, never fertilize and it still blooms a couple of times a year.

Lyndon Lyons http://lyndonlyon.com/CP%20Lis... has Episcia Chocolate Cream, E. Chocolate Velour (which I also grew at one time) and E. Chocolate Warrior. I've been browsing their site off and on for a few weeks now but still haven't placed an order ... we've got so much going on right now that I really don't have time to set up light stands so it might be another six months to a year before I bring myself to grow gessies again ... if I can hold out that long!

Wow! They sound beautiful!

Hi Donna,
I was wondering if you ever found a Chocolate Soldier? I have the one your looking for. I got my 1st one up in Alaska and when I moved down to Washington State I brought a part of it with me. I have several. I take clippings off all the time and restart them. I brought mine down in a baggie with a very wet paper towel and in a small box so it wouldn't smash. Anyways if your still looking I could send you a start? Email me at [email protected].
Marian

Ok guys! Y'all are all much more experienced in growing these plants than I, so help me! I have just got in 4 lovely Episcias, they are tiny, in 2" pots, but two have opening buds on them as tiny as they are and one is budding. What size pot do I need to repot them into? And I assume African Violet soil??

Hello Donna how are you? Sorry this has taken me so long to reply = I haven't check Gesnariad forum for a while!!
Yes to special soil. One thing I do with all my gesnariads, is place on a tray of gravel with water - this total helps them have access to moisture! Let us know how your plants are doing!

Found a couple of episcias at our church's rummage sale - along with three African Violets. The two episcias look alike and looking forward to see what kind of blossoms will appear. They look quite a bit like the Chocolate Soldiers pictured here. The African Violets are another story - they all appear to be different - although still young yet, so hard to tell. I have grown AV before - but episcias are new for me although I have admired their foliage for quite some time. If anyone every has any stolens, cuttings, etc - I would certainly appreciate them. At the moment I have nothing to trade but would be more than glad to pay for them and the postage. If anyone has more photos of their episcias I would like to see them. Have googled them and seen and admired a lot of different images.

Hi Don, have fun with your new plants!! Post pics when you can, please!
I don't have episcias anymore, and I always forget the names of what I do have, tomorrow I'll take some photos and I'll tree mail you to see if you are interested
Good luck with your plants !

Well guys, I still have my Chocolate Soldier cutting that Marian sent me a year or two ago, she sent several, but I got one to live. It does not grow a lot, it is long and lanky. Not full and lush as I would like it to be. And it has never bloomed, but it's still alive. And I feed with miracle gro. Sadly, the 4 new ones of different varieties I ordered all died. And I paid nearly $50 shipping and all for those 4 tiny plants. I almost cried. I tried so hard.

Sorry to hear that Donna
One thing I noticed is these plants seem to like more sun than African violets. I have several under regular grow lights, they're at the edges not right in the light but it helps them bloom!
The other thing I did after losing several plants is getting those pots that don't have holes, to use as catch pots. Fill the bottom with some gravel then put the potted plant (That has holes in the bottom) into the catch pot. Water once per week by top watering until the catch pot is nearly filled with water. My plants love this and I now have good luck with gesnariads. Maybe something like that could help you

Old thread - but still interesting. The Violet Barn sells some lovely Chocolate Soldiers as well as other gesneriads. I just got 3 African Violets from them - already set with blooms. I can see I will probably overdo and get too many plants as usual. This thread is making me want a Chocolate Soldier - hey - my birthday is in September. Maybe I can get an early present from The Violet Barn (or maybe 2 or 3).

I have several plants from the violet barn! They're nice people too I think :)
I like when older threads get posted to, reminds me that they're here