When I was a kid, one of the first plants I noticed was my grandma’s African Violet. It even had a name—Jenny (it was given to her by a friend who had a daughter named Jennifer). I loved the pink flowers and the fuzzy leaves.
A Few Interesting Facts About African Violets
African Violets are not violets at all. Instead, they are directly related to a group of plants called Gesneriads, which include Gloxinias, Streptocarpus, and The Goldfish Plant. They are native to every continent except Antarctica.
African Violets were initially discovered growing in the mountains of Tanzania in 1892. Baron von Saint Paul-llaire, a German colonial official in East Africa, found them. He was interested in horticulture and sent some seeds to his father in Germany, who was also interested in horticulture. His father shared some of the seeds with a friend of his, the Chief Royal Botanist at the Herrenhauser Gardens. He named it Saintpaulia after the Saint Paul-llaire family. The Herrenhauser Botanical Gardens exhibited the new plant for the first time at a floral show in 1893. It was a huge hit.
Many Colors to Choose From
In the wild, African Violets range from blue to lavender but readily hybridize, so they now come in dozens of colors.
Here’s How to Grow Your Own
African Violets need good light because they grow at the base of trees in the wild; the light needs to be diffused. Direct midday sun, for example, could burn the foliage. An unobstructed north window that’s bright all day but does not receive direct sun might work, or an east window that receives direct morning sun up until, but not after, 10:00 a.m. They also do very well under artificial lighting.
Keep African Violets between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too cold, the foliage will deteriorate; if it is too warm, the violets will not bloom well.
When you water, use room temperature water (tap water in the winter can be a bit cool.). Allow the top inch or two of the soil to dry to the touch before you water, but never allow the plant to go so dry that it begins to wilt. Try to keep water off the foliage, as it can cause spots.
When repotting African Violets, use an African violet soil mix, as they have specific soil requirements.
Enjoy Your Beautiful African Violet
They are easy to propagate by rooting individual leaves, so give some to your friends!