For a long time there was taxonomic confusion about this plant and the similar S. leucotricha.

S. leucotricha was grown for many years under the name Rechsteineria leucotricha, and when that genus was merged with Sinningia as S. leucotricha. At one point it was thought that the species in cultivation was incorrectly named, and was actually properly known as S. canescens. So it was grown under that name for some time.

Then the actual S. canescens was introduced into cultivation, and turned out to be different; the original plant was properly S. leucotricha, as it had once been called.

In general S. canescens has somewhat larger leaves, with less of the silvery hairiness than S. leucotricha.

A photo of S. canescens adjacent to the similar S. leucotricha can be seen here.