Originally, only one variety of African violet existed when the plant was first found growing in the coastal woods of East Africa. Since African violets were first introduced into the horticultural world in 1892, the plant’s easy nature and resulting popularity has encouraged houseplant lovers to cultivate new hybrids. With over 16,000 cultivars of African violets, there are plenty of varieties from which to choose. It’s fun to add different varieties of African violets to your collection.
All African violets have beautiful, slightly fuzzy leaves and masses of colorful flowers. Once you get one African violet, it’s not unusual to slowly (or not so slowly) begin getting more and more African violets. Most African plant lovers begin by purchasing a few locally available plants before moving to ordering African violets online. In fact, it’s easy to keep adding more African violets to your collection as you discover more and more beautiful varieties.
Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned grower, African Violet Resource Center has everything you need to help your plant grow vibrant and strong. Some unique African violets are harder to find than others. Some of these varieties look quite similar.
African violets are divided into two main categories: trailing and rosette. These plants have a single crown growing from one set of roots. If a rosette African violet appears to have more than one crown, then the plant can be divided into multiple individual plants each with their own root system. These plants have multiple crowns growing from one set of roots.
Each stem has clusters of leaves growing out in a circular pattern. Their multiple stems have leaves that grow out in a circular pattern from each stem.
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African violet varieties can have blooms in several different colors, including blue, violet, lavender, pink, red, and white as well as similar shades.
How to Grow African Violets from Leaf Cuttings
Popular African Violet Varieties
Here's a glimpse into some popular and unique African violet varieties:
- Aroma of Summer: As the name suggests, Aroma of Summer has a distinct, pleasant scent.
- RD’s Gleam: For a stand-out pink blossom, try RD’s Gleam.
- Kentucky Strawberries: This is a semi-miniature variety known as Kentucky Strawberries. The plant was hybridized by D. The leaves are dark green in color with serrated shape foliage with a red back. The flowers are fuschia in color with variable white tips. They are double in type.
- Optimara Little Amethyst: This is a Miniature variety. The leaves are ovate, pointed, serrated in shape. They are hairy, glossy with a purple red back. They are black-green in color. The flowers are purple red in color with a thin white edge. They are semidouble-double in type.
- Ness Puppy Dreams: This is a semi miniature African violet variety known as Ness Puppy Dreams. The plant was hybridized by D. The leaves are medium green and quilted in shape. The flowers are white and pink in color. They are pansy in shape and semi-double in type.
- Robs Kitten Caboodle: This is a miniature variety known as Robs Kitten Caboodle. The plant was hybridized by R. The leaves are green and white in color with variegated wavy foliage. The flowers are white in color with blue edges. The flowers are ruffled and semi-double in shape.
- Senks whisper of pink: Senks whisper of pink, Single white wasp/pink streaks and blush. Semiminiature, 2008, R. Follet/D. Senks whisper of pink: Senks whisper of pink, Single white wasp/pink streaks and blush. Medium green, plain, pointed, serrated. Semiminiature, 2008, R. Follet/D.
- Teas Irish Green Fields: Teas Irish Green Fields is a Small standard variety. The leaves are medium green in color and they have serrated, ruffled foliage. The flowers are white in color with a wide ruffled green edge. The flowers are Semidouble in type.
- Ness Sheer Peach: A Semi miniature variety. The plant was hybridized by D. The leaves are plain in shape and medium green in color. The flowers are peach-pink in color and pansy in shape. The flowers are semidouble to double in type.
Watering African Violets: Key Considerations
Here are some important watering tips to keep in mind:
- Equal parts peat moss + perlite or vermiculite.
- If wick watering, add more perlite.
- If you are planning to clean / wash the plant, then it’s fine to gently shower the plant. After pouring water, make sure to wipe clean all the water from the surface of the leaves.
- Do not allow pools of water to sit on the top of the leaves or in the crown area.
- While watering, if water does splash onto the leaves, then immediately wipe the water away and clean the leaf of any water residue.
- After the plant has been watered, remember to remove any excess water from the dish / saucer, do not let the plant sit in water overnight.
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