Velvety leaves in a neat rosette, with clusters of flowers above them – in the right conditions for months on end. Small, compact and non-toxic, but particular about water.

What it does for you

Given the right conditions, the African violet can flower non-stop for months on end¹ – in proper conditions, Clemson says, even year-round². Being compact, it fits even where indoor space is limited¹. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic for cats and dogs³. It doesn't measurably clean the air: depending on the study, you'd need ten to a thousand plants per square metre⁴.

Origin & history

The wild species grows in Kenya and Tanzania, on rocks⁷; as houseplants, thousands of cultivars are grown⁸. In 1893 Hermann Wendland named the genus Saintpaulia after Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, who collected plants in 1891 and sent them to his father in Germany, and after the father⁹.

POWO now lists it as Streptocarpus ionanthus⁷, but the old name is still widely used¹. Where forest is cleared, the habitats of wild African violets dry out and their populations die¹⁰.

Caution

The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic for cats and dogs³. The Bonn poison centre rates it as non-toxic for people too; larger amounts can still cause stomach upset and nausea¹¹.

Care

Light. Lots of bright light, but no direct sun, especially in summer – it scorches the leaves; too little light reduces or halts flowering. From spring to autumn a north- or east-facing window (south- or east-facing in the southern hemisphere), in winter a south- or west-facing one (north- or west-facing in the southern hemisphere)¹.

Water. Room-temperature water once the surface is dry, onto the compost or from below for half an hour. Wetting the plant can lead to mould or rot¹; cold water on the leaves can cause white blotches². As a rule of thumb, about once a week.

Temperature & humidity. 18–24 °C by day and 16 °C at night, all year, without cold draughts or sudden changes¹. After nights below about 16 °C it is stunted and can take long to recover⁸. It dislikes dry air: stand it on damp gravel, but don't mist – that marks the leaves¹.

Soil, pot & repotting. Light, free-draining, peat-free houseplant or African violet compost. Every two to three years in spring, slightly larger: too large or deep a pot can deter flowering. Usually about 10 cm is the maximum¹.

Feeding. For more flowers, you can give a dilute liquid feed every three to four weeks in spring and summer¹. Yellowing lower leaves and slower growth usually mean it needs fertiliser².

Extras

Cultivars range from micro-miniatures 3–6 cm across to large standards over 75 cm¹².