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African Violet

Streptocarpus ionanthus
Also known as: Saintpaulia

African Violet is a vegetable in the Gesneriaceae family. It grows best in bright indirect light with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 11-12.

Varieties

1 · sorted by days to maturity
  • African Violet

    PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Houseplant (leaf cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Compact, near-continuous bloomer. Note: Pet-safe; avoid wetting leaves.

    African Violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus, formerly Saintpaulia) is a compact flowering houseplant that can bloom nearly year-round in modest light; pet-safe and easily propagated from a single leaf.

    Growing notes: Botanical name: Streptocarpus ionanthus|Hardiness zones: 11-12|Propagation: leaf cutting|Light: Bright indirect light|Water: Medium|Mature size: 4-6 inches

Family
Gesneriaceae
Category
Vegetable
Form
Rosette
Lifecycle
annual or perennial
Zone
11-12
Height
0.3333333333333333–0.5 ft
Spread
0.5–1 ft
Sun
Bright indirect light
Water
Medium

Plan your african violet planting

Add african violet to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.

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At a glance

Frost tolerance
Warm-season · to ~55°F
Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives

Storing & preserving

Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.

  • Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
  • Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.

General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Growing timeline

Propagation
Cutting

Care & troubleshooting

No curated care & troubleshooting advice for african violet yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.