Flower of the Week: African Violet
As seasons change, flowers of various kinds come and go, but there is one little floral fairy that keeps blooming all year round indoors. That is the African violet. However, African violets are not related to violets at all. With delicate looks and rich colors, African violet can bloom throughout the whole year, adding eye-catching delight to the indoor life.
To view African violet’s raw, intense beauty, why not check out its original birthplace in eastern Africa? The Amani Nature Reserve, located in the Usambara mountains in northeastern Tanzania, is an 83-square-kilometer habitat many varieties of wild African violets call home.
German colonists invaded the Usambara mountains in the late 19th Century. They brought economic crops, like tea and coffee, and set up a nature reserve in the forest to provide water and lumber. Nowadays, the Amani Nature Reserve is purer and more natural. Setting foot inside, you can almost feel the touch of moist sea breezes coming from the Indian Ocean, and your eyes will light up at the sight of sporadic purple blossoms glimmering in the endless green woods.
October and November are the best time of year to travel here and look for African violets. It’s the beginning of the rainy season, but you can follow the lead of your local guide through the forests and canyons for a lovely encounter with vigorously thriving native African violets.
In 1892, Baron Walter, a German colonial officer, first discovered African violet in the Usambara mountains and gave its seeds to his botany-enthusiast father as a gift. Hence, when the African violet was officially recognized as a new species, Baron Walter and his father’s last name, Saint Paul-Illaire, was adopted by botanists to name the plant’s genus Saintpaulia.
In 1894, the African violet was introduced to America. A grand African violet convention was held in Atlanta in 1946, and the African Violet Society of America was founded at the same time, marking the start of this beautiful flowers’ rise to popularity in the US.
Today, we enjoy a rich line of African violet varieties produced through years of cultivation, all with delightful names, such as Snow Prince (with white petals), Pink Miracle (with pink petals), Diana (with blue petals), etc.
The discovery of African violets happened little more than a century ago, but its gorgeous look and rich connotations have inspired many artists for numerous creations.
Taiwanese writer Daren Liu had an encounter with African violets in a florist’s shop and was attracted by their beautiful flowers. He dived into horticulture and built his own garden in New York. His collection of essays, Inside and Outside My Garden, tells the story of his 20 years of romance with floral gardens, beginning with African violets.
In 2019, an independent Iranian film called African Violet was released in theaters. Based on the true story of her aunt, director Mona Zandi told a warm-hearted story about a trivial life with bright tones. The leading girl in the film holds African violet in her hands many times to symbolize her love as a wife and mother.
African violets have specific requirements for temperatures and need a little bit of care to have their preferred conditions of light, soil, moisture, etc. satisfied.
Native to eastern Africa, African violets prefer a warm climate; around 20°C is best. It likes bright, scattered light and needs to avoid direct sunlight. In daily care, it can be placed by the window. It will grow vigorously in loose, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, which should be kept from being too damp to prevent root rot. Carefully cared for indoors over time, African violets can bloom all year round.
Size: 10-30 cm (4-12 in) tall
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 11-12
Light: Bright, scattered light
Soil: Loose, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Blooming time: All year round