Saintpaulia ionantha
Common name: African violet
Saintpaulia ionantha is a small perennial herb in the gesneriad family, native to the coastal mountains of Tanzania and Kenya in eastern Africa. It forms a low rosette of hairy, rounded leaves and bears clusters of violet-purple flowers with yellow stamens. It is the principal parent of the cultivated African violets, among the most popular houseplants in the world, with tens of thousands of registered hybrids and cultivars.
Care summary
Sun
Bright indirect light; no harsh direct sun
Water
Keep evenly moist; water from below, avoid wet leaves
Soil
Light, porous, slightly acidic potting mix
Hardiness
Zones 11–12
Mature height
About 10–15 cm (0.3–0.5 ft)
Pet safe
Yes; non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Leaf cuttings root readily: take a healthy mature leaf with 3-4 cm of petiole, insert the stalk at a slight angle into moist, light potting mix, and keep warm and humid until plantlets form at the base, then separate and pot them up. Mature plants can also be divided by splitting multi-crown specimens.
Fun facts
- Despite the common name, it is not related to true violets (Viola) at all.
- It was introduced to Europe in the 1890s by Baron Walter von Saint Paul, after whom the genus is named.
- Modern taxonomy merges Saintpaulia into the genus Streptocarpus, though the old name remains in universal horticultural use.
- The species itself is threatened in the wild, with native populations in the Eastern Arc Mountains under pressure from forest clearing.