African Violet
Saintpaulia Ionantha
Overview
The African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) adds a tropical flair with its velvety, heart-shaped leaves and vibrant blooms ranging in color from blue, violet, to pink. This petite evergreen perennial thrives indoors, reaching 6 inches tall, and enjoys well-draining soil and moderate indirect light. Watering from below is recommended to avoid leaf spot. A charming underplanting or in pots, it refreshes spaces with year-round color. Keep at 65-75°F for optimal growth.

Culture
- Sun
- Full, Half
- Water
- Low, Medium
- USDA zones
- 9–11
Shape & size
Classification
- Type
- Perennial
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.
Start your 14-day trialPhotos (136)
























Photographs by 10 contributors
- Kor!An (Корзун Андрей), CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- 阿橋 HQ, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Wildfeuer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- cs:User:Pernak, CC BY 2.5 · source
- Sanja565658, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Dr. Avishai Teicher, CC BY 2.5 · source
- Yercaud-elango, CC BY 4.0 · source
- flowcomm, CC BY 2.0 · source
- MATHIAS, M H from Guaratinguetá, Brasil, CC BY 2.0 · source
Related plants

Perennial
Chinese Foxglove
Rehmannia Elata

Ground cover
Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta
Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'

Ground cover
African Daisy
Arctotis Hybrids

Perennial
African Iris
Dietes Iridioides

Perennial
Alabama Jubilee Daylily
Hemerocallis 'Alabama Jubilee'

Perennial
Albomarginata Hosta
Hosta 'Undulata Albo-Marginata'