HO-10
1978
YARD AND GARDEN
HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT • COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907
AFRICAN VIOLETS
John A. Wott*
Extension home environment horticulturist
The African violet, or Saintpaulia, is the most popular houseplant. And it’s easy to see why—few other houseplants are more beautiful or more varied. African violets thrive in normal home temperatures and flower almost continuously. Because they are small, they are handled easily and take a minimum of space.
The African violet is not a true violet. It was first found in Tanganyika, and named Saintpaulia, in honor of the discoverer, Baron Walter Von St. Paul.

Varieties
When African violets first became popular, approximately a dozen varieties were available. Today there are hundreds of varieties. Flower colors include blue, purple, red-violet, orchid, lavender, red, pink, and white, as well as bi-colored and multi-colored forms. There are single, double, semi-double, star-shaped, fringed, and ruffled flower types.
Leaf types include such shapes as plain, quilted, ruffled, fringed, scalloped, spooned, pointed, and variegated.
The American Violet Society classifies violets as miniatures (6 inches or less in diameter), semi-miniature (6 to 8 inches), standard (8 to 16 inches), and large (over 16 inches).
Some of the best cultivars are listed below. The letter following the cultivar indicates the plant classification size — M (miniature), Ms (semiminiature), S (standard), and L (large). The flower type is noted by X (double), □, (semi-double), and O (single).
Blue to Purple
Magic Charm (S) Bright mid-blue □ Step Up (S) Dark blue □
Cool Shadows (S) Bright blue X Little Blue Roses (S) Dark purple X

Orchid to Lavender
Smoky Skies (S) Lavender-blue X Joy (S) Bright orchid □
Liberty Lady (S) Two-toned orchid □ Pop Art (S) Reddish-lavender X

Pink
Bali Hai (S) Bright pink □
Gypsy Dancer (S) Medium pink X Sam (S) Coral pink □
Cheerleader (L) Deep pink X

Miniature & Semi-Miniatures
Baby Blue (Ms) Light blue X Fire Sprite (Ms) Red X Ping Pong (M) White X Little Charm (M) Pink X Cuddles (Ms) Fuchsia red □
Edged Flowers
Duet (S) Blue; white edge X Darcie (S) Red; white edge X Timeless (S) Fuchsiz; white edge X Serenity (S) White; purple edge X Wild Country (S) Purple; white edge □
Bi-Color
Georgeous (S) Orchid and white X Star Gazer (S) Blue and white □ Don’s Happytime (S) Pink and white X
Heavenly Halo (S) Fuchsia and white X
Trailers
Bicentennial Trail - deep pink X Breezy Blue - Blue X Freedom Trail - Fuchsia X Flappy Trails (Ms) - Light fuchsia X Crafty Farmer - Lavender blue □
*The author would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Donald Wilson in revising this publication.