African Violet — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Streptocarpus ionanthus |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–28 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 21.1–26.7 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 90–180 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 20.3–30.5 |
| Mature height (cm) | 10.2–20.3 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 20.3–30.5 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 11–12 |
| Light | Shade |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Cutting |
Growing directions
Root leaf cuttings in moist propagating mix and grow as a houseplant in bright indirect light — never direct sun — in slightly acidic, well-drained, slightly moist potting mix: African violet is the world's most popular flowering houseplant, grown by millions indoors for its rosettes of soft, velvety, dark green leaves and year-round clusters of flowers in purple, violet, lavender, pink, white, and bicolor combinations. The keys to success are bright indirect light (east or north window in summer; south or west in winter), bottom-watering or careful top-watering that avoids wetting the crown and leaves, and consistently moist but not waterlogged, slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5) potting mix with good aeration. Feed every 4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer formulated for African violets. The genus was recently reclassified from Saintpaulia to Streptocarpus; thousands of named cultivars are available through the African Violet Society of America.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0