National Garden Bureau named 2024 "The Year of the African Violet"
The delicate beauty of African violets has graced American homes and greenhouses for well over a century. Although new varieties, African Violet Heirloom seeds produce plants with similar colors and foliage shapes of older varieties beloved by previous generations of gardeners. The plants are large, reaching approximately 6 to 9 inches in diameter, with a similar height. They will begin to bloom 6 to 9 months after sprouting, setting pink and purple flowers several times a year, almost continuously with proper care. The cheerful violet-like blossoms perch just above a neat rosette of thick, fuzzy, dark green leaves, which keep the plant attractive even when not in bloom.
Saintpaulia ionantha varieties, commonly called African violets, these heirloom types are low- and slow-growing plants with a compact habit and free-flowering nature. African violets grow and bloom best in small pots, ideally only one-third the diameter of their leaf span, filled with light and porous potting mix having an acidic pH between 5.8 and 6.2. Place the plants within 12 inches of a bright window or under fluorescent or LED lights. If they receive adequate light, the leaves will grow in a flat horizontal wheel; inadequate light produces long leaf stems that reach upwards. To look their best, African violets require evenly moist soilneither soggy, nor bone dryand regular fertilization. Conditions with temperatures between 65 and 80°F with 40 to 60 percent humidity are ideal.
Grown in optimal conditions, African violets live about 20 years on average but can live up to 50 years. As a symbol of devotion, commitment, and faithfulness, African violets make a thoughtful gift, especially for Mother's Day and birthdays. They are popular with container gardeners and add a pop of color to home and office interiors.
If you are planning to start your African violet seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
To learn more about African violets, check out our blog, What's the Difference? Violets, Violas, and African Violets
