AFRICAN VIOLET

SAINTPAULIA

African violets are grown for their gorgeous flowers, which can last for months and come in a range of colors, including purple, red, white, and pink. Their fleshy leaves are covered in a downy fur. These small plants, with their neat, compact habit, are ideal for east- or west-facing windowsills.

HEIGHT 5in (13cm)

SPREAD 8in (20cm)

FLOWERS Small, five-petaled blooms in a range of colors

FOLIAGE Fleshy, furry

LIGHT Filtered sun

TEMPERATURE 64–75°F (18–24°C)

CARE Easy

PLACE OF ORIGIN Tanzania

CARE

Place African violets in a draft-free room with filtered light and moderate humidity and you’ll hardly ever be without flowers, especially if you deadhead any faded blooms.

Plant in a pot of specialist African violet mix and water from below (see image). The African violet enjoys humid conditions, but its leaves suffer if misted or splashed. Place on a tray or pot saucer of moist, expanded clay granules. When the potting mix starts to dry out, water from below, but don’t let the plant stand in water for long. Reduce water in winter. Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month throughout the spring and summer months.

Move the plant to a south-facing windowsill when temperatures and light levels drop. Return it to an east- or west-facing spot in the spring. Repot African violets every two or three years, and increase your collection of these plants by taking leaf cuttings in late winter.

PROBLEM SOLVING If the leaf stalks become elongated, this is probably due to the plant having had too much shade. However, if it’s placed in a very bright spot, brown marks will soon appear on the foliage. In both cases, pinch off severely affected leaves and move the plant to a different spot.

DK

African violets make the perfect centerpiece, thanks to their neat shape.

DK

Water can mark the plant’s foliage, so it’s best to water it from below (see Watering And Feeding).

DISPLAY

The African violet is hugely popular: its neat shape, virtually year-long flowers, and soft, attractive leaves make it a striking plant to display in any interior. It’s low and neat enough not to steal light in a shady room if placed in a small window, making it a great choice for a windowsill display. Place a collection of the plants on along tray and, if space permits, add a few mosaic plants and Cape primroses.

Houseplants A–Z | AFRICAN VIOLET

ALSO TRY

Other plants that are small enough to add interest to a windowsill but don’t block the light include:

  • Earth star (Cryptanthus bivittatus), height 6in (15cm). Ideal for a south-facing windowsill, this rosette-forming bromeliad has attractive and colorful foliage.
  • Peacock moss (Selaginella uncinata), height 2in (5cm). This creeping moss will thrive on a north-facing windowsill, but it needs a humid atmosphere. As its name suggests, its iridescent, bluish-green leaves resemble the colors of a peacock’s feathers.
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