(saint-paul' ee-ah ii-o-nan' thah)

Common name: African Violet

Family: Gesneriaceae, Gesneriad

Height x width: 4-6" x 6-16" or more

Growth rate: moderate

Foliage: generally green (in some cultivars variegated creme, pink or white), hairy, broadly ovate, 2-3" or more long in rosettes

Flowers: grown mainly for their flowers, ½-2½" wide, generally in cymes of 4 or 5, they may be described according to:

flower color: white, pink, red, blue, purple, creme, yellow, bicolor; a "chimera" has lines or streaks of opposing color; "fantasy markings" are flecks of another color; many are edged white or opposing color

flower petals: single with 5 petals, semi-double with small central crest of petals, fully double with 2 or more layers of petals

flower shape: star-shaped with all 5 petals the same shape and size, bell-shaped, pansy-shaped

flower edges: ruffled, rounded, fringed

Light: bright indirect to moderate

Temperature: average to warm

Watering: moderate, keep off leaves, subirrigation is effective if not too wet

Fertility: low

Humidity: average

Soil: well-drained

Pests and Problems: botrytis gray mold, root and crown rot (if too wet or cool), powdery mildew (if too humid), aphids, mealybugs, thrips, mites; leaves wilt if too cool or wet or too dry; leaves scorch in direct sun; leaves spot from direct water as from misting

Growth habit, uses: popular indoor flowering plant; effective in groups or three or more in a large, shallow pan or dish container

Other interest: native to East Africa; discovered by Deacon W. von Saint Paulliaire on a German mission to Usambara in Africa in 1892, with a similar species confusa discovered in 1895, and being the main parents of present cultivars

Other culture: grow well under artificial lights indoors, north windows; remove faded flowers to prevent disease; divide off plantlets and repot as needed; when not in bloom or active growth, keep cool and allow to dry between waterings

Propagation: leaf cuttings rooted with bottom heat (not chimeras), division, seed

Cultivars:

Most are hybrids with ionantha as a parent, and so are usually listed under it. In addition to the flower descriptions above, they may be classified by rosette diameter as:

(micro) micro-miniature: less than 3" across

(mini) miniature: 3-6" across

(semi) semi-miniature: 6-8" across

(standard) standard: 8-16" across

(large) large: over 16" across
 
 
 
 

The following are a few recommended or representative of the over 2000 cultivars. Selection will vary among sources, with few in common among most sources or references.
 

Cultivar	class	color	flower traits; foliage
'Ballet Snowcone'	mini	white	double
'Blushing Ivory'	standard	ivory	single, star, rose edge
'Cherry Glo'	mini	cherry red	star-shaped, double
'Concord'	standard	white,blue	chimeral, pansy shape
'Delft'	standard	blue	large, semi-double
'Fancy Pants'	standard	white	single, frilled red margins
'Favorite Child'	standard	white	blue markings, pansy, ruffled, semi-double
'Granger's Wonderland'	large	light blue	ruffled, semi-double
'Ice Maiden'	standard	white	single, blue centers and markings
'Irish Flirt'	semi	white	green shaded, double, frilled
'King's Treasure'	large	dark blue	double, purple margins, white edge lines
'Kiwi Dazzle'	standard	bright red	single, fringed, central white stripe
'Kristie Marie'	standard	dusky red	double, white margins
'Lemon Creme'	standard	white	yellow centers/mottling, star, semi-double
'Melodie Kim'	standard	white	semi-double, purplish marks
'Mickey Mouse'	mini	dark blue	double
'Milky Way Trail'	semi	white	pansy shape, single to semi-double
'Moonbeams'	standard	white	with blue and pink, purple fantasy markings
'Ms. Perry'	standard	white	single, fringed pink margins
'Ness Firefly'	semi	deep pink	pansy shape, semi-double, light margins
'Ode to Beauty'	large	coral	star shape, semi-double, white margins
'Optimara Colorado'	standard	red	purplish, fringed, single
'Party Print'	large	pink	bluish markings, ruffled, star, semi-double
'Picasso'	large	blue	white markings, double
'Pip Squeek'	micro	light pink	bell shape, single
'Rob's Ice Maiden'	semi	lavender	silvery, darker markings, semi-double
'Rob's Sticky Wicket'	semi	deep pink	semi-double
'Rose Quartz'	mini	pink	single to semi-double, Optimara series
'Sassy Shirley'	semi	purple	light, semi-double, variegated leaves
'Shades of Autumn'	large	pink	pansy shape, ruffled, pale centers
'Snowkist Haven'	standard	white	fringed, single
'Snuggles'	mini	pink	large, semi-double; leaves margined white
'Tomahawk'	large	dark red	fluted petals, double
'Zoja'	standard	blue	purplish, white lined margins, single

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