Are African violets related to violets?
About African Violets The genus came to be called Saintpaulia, though the plants have recently been re-categorized into a different genus, Streptocarpus. Despite their common name, they are not a type of violet, but they do produce vivid, violet-colored flowers.
Is Primrose in the violet family?
Viola primulifolia, commonly called the primrose-leaf violet, is a species of flowering plant in the violet family.
Are violets and primroses the same?
With the majority of traditional houseplants being foliage plants because of the lower light conditions, African violets provide welcome splashes of color. Primroses, on the other hand, are low-growing, easy-care flowers that work well for lining paths and edging flower beds or containers with their cheerful blooms.
Are gloxinia and African violets related?
Gloxinia are similar in appearance to African Violets. False African violet (Streptocarpella) is from East Africa. This plant forms a shrubby, spreading mound to six inches high and two feet wide and performs well in a hanging basket. The fuzzy, fleshy green leaves are 1½ inches long.
What is so special about African violets?
African violets are perhaps the most popular flowering houseplants grown in the world today. There are many reasons for this: The plants generally flower the year round, giving an almost continuous display of blooms. They require the same temperatures humans find comfortable, making them easy to raise in our homes.
Are African violets succulents?
African violets are native to high-elevation tropical rainforests in Tanzania. Other than the blooms, the most distinguishing characteristic of African violets is their fuzzy, succulent foliage. The fine hairs on the leaves are an adaptation to help the plant absorb water from the air.
Which African violet is easiest to grow?
Trailing African violets
Trailing African violets are perhaps the easiest to grow and bloom, especially for the novice. They are naturally branching, spreading, plants that can left to do their ‘own thing’. No need to remove suckers to keep symmetry or encourage blooming.
What plants are related to African violets?
Everyone knows African violets (front row) are great for indoor flowers, but you may want to try some of their relatives, such as flame violets ( Episcia ‘Faded Jade’, back left) or Cape primroses ( Streptocarpus ‘Magnetosphere’, back right).
Are there any African violets with variegated leaves?
Variegation on leaf chimeras is very rare and is completely immune to changes in temperature, environment and age. Care is identical to that of other African violets. Both miniature and standard chimera African violets are available.
Can You Grow African violets from suckers?
About African violets. These are quite unusual, genetically more rare, and can be propagated only by suckers. “Leaf” chimeras are varieties whose foliage can only be reproduced by sucker propagation. Variegation on leaf chimeras is very rare and is completely immune to changes in temperature, environment and age.
What kind of soil do African violets like?
Use a peat-based, “soilless” mix consisting of at least 30-50% coarse vermiculite and/or perlite. Brand-name “violet soils” are NOT necessarily good for African violets! General rule: the wetter you keep the soil, the more perlite it should contain.
How big do mini African violets get?
About African violets. We specialize in miniature and semiminiature African violets. When mature, miniatures grow to less than 6″ in diameter, semiminis to less than 8″. With proper culture, actual plant size usually is much smaller in practice. The smallest of them might be less than 2 or 3″ from leaf tip to leaf tip!