False African Violet (Streptocarpella saxorum) is a charming tropical plant known for its delicate blue-violet flowers and soft, fuzzy foliage. Easy to care for and flowers all the time. This herbaceous evergreen tropical plant with a mounded form is a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor settings.
Cape primrose (Streptocarpus saxorum) is a beautiful houseplant that is non-toxic for pets.
False African Violet features dainty panicles of blue tubular flowers with violet overtones and white throats rising above the foliage from mid spring to mid fall. Its tomentose oval leaves emerge light green in spring, turning bluish-green in color the rest of the year.
The purple to light blue flowers are produced on wiry stems. The flowers are found on long wiry scapes that originated at the nodes. They terminate in three to five flowers.
The leaves are soft and furry as well.
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The name Streptocarpella means Streptocarpus like. Streptocarpus means "twisted fruit", a referring to the slender, twisted seed capsule that the plants produce. Streptocarpella produces a twisted seed pod. Saxorum means growing in and among rocks.
As a tropical plant, false African violets are extremely sensitive to cold. All plants should remain indoors until temperatures consistently rise above 55 degrees F. (13 C.).
False African Violet is not known to cause harm to humans or pets.
Light Requirements
False African Violet may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight. False African violets need medium to high light to grow well and produce flowers. The best outdoor locations for these plants are those which receive very bright, yet indirect, sunlight. Filtered bright, indirect light is best, with no direct hot sun in the afternoon. Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth. Likes light coming from above.
Watering
False African Violet prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Keep the potting mix evenly moist. The soil should remain uniformly moist but not soggy. Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in False African Violet, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Routine watering will be required in order to ensure that soils remain consistently moist, especially during prolonged periods of hot weather.
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Soil and Repotting
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your False African Violet after it doubles in size or once a year-whichever comes first. False African Violet should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Proper streptocarpella care begins with the selection of a high quality potting mix that drains well. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Plants will also need ample room for root growth, though they are able to thrive in smaller containers, such as window boxes.
Temperature and Humidity
False African violets like temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 to 60 degrees at night. Cape primrose grows best when indoor temperatures are between 60 °F and 75 °F. False violets thrive in 20 to 40 percent humidity and should be fertilized every month with a half-strength solution of an all-purpose soluble fertilizer. This plant is native to the tropics and prefers growing in moist environments with evenly warm conditions all year round. If you keep your plant on a window sill, protect it from cold and drafts because they are very prone to cold.
Fertilizing
Use a balanced house plant fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20, every 4 to 6 weeks from spring until early fall. Stop fertilizing throughout late fall and winter to allow a rest period for the plant.
Here's a simple guide to fertilizing your False African Violet:
| Season | Fertilizer Type | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Spring to Early Fall | Balanced house plant fertilizer (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) | Every 4-6 weeks |
| Late Fall and Winter | None | None |
Pruning
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and may require the occasional pruning to look its best.
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Propagation
Cape primroses are easy to propagate. False African violets are commonly propagated by stem cuttings. Take a 4- to 6-inch stem cutting and remove the lower leaves on the 1 ½ inch part of the stem that is inserted into potting soil. Stem cuttings should be four inches long with the bottom leaves removed.
Pests and Diseases
Cape primrose may occasionally have aphids and mealybugs. False African violets occasionally attract pests including cyclamen mite and spider mite. It is seldom bothered with disease issues.
Additional Tips
- Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle.
- Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container.
- In its preferred tropical habitat, it can grow to be around 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 15 inches.
- This plant does best in partial shade to shade.
- It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils.
- It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.
- This species is not originally from North America.
- Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
False African Violet is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the thriller plants stand out.
