Wednesday, February 14, 2024

African Violet Plant Profile

African Violet Plant Profile

African Violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) is a common houseplant that can be grown indoors year-round. They are in the Gesneriad family and are not related to actual violets. These easy-care flowering favorites have been grown and collected for more than a century and are gaining in popularity today. 2024 is the Year of the African Violet.

They are native to the tropical rainforests of Africa. African Violets thrive in filtered sunlight, never in full sun. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and use room temperature water. Avoid drafty areas and sudden temperature changes.

African violets bloom best when they are root-bound and snug in a container. Use a light potting mix and re-pot it in fresh soil once a year. Give them a few drops of African Violet liquid fertilizer every week or so.

African Violets leaves can be heart-shaped or oval -- ruffled or serrated – deep-red or light-green -- and many other colors, shapes, sizes, and forms.

The flowers are single or double – in pansy, star, or bell shapes – and in colors from white to pink to red to purple. Color patterns are numerous as well from speckles to bi-colors to chimeras.

Once you start collecting, you won’t be able to stop.

African Violets: You Can Grow That!

#yearoftheafricanviolet

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Cassie Peo

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