Inside the African Violet Family

Host: Kristin Hildabrand, Warren County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Guest: Clara Taylor, Area Urban Horticulture Extension Agent with KSU

Topic: Inside the African Violet Family

Native to Africa, Asia, and the Americas, the African violet or Gesneriad family is known for being beautiful flowering houseplants. Today, I have with me a variegated African violet, two Streptocarpuses or Cape Primroses, a lipstick plant, a goldfish plant, and a false African violet or Streptocarpella. This collection offers a well-rounded variety of Gesneriad family members. All these plants can consistently bloom indoors year-round with proper care. The false African violet and cape primroses will bloom all year, but may pause during winter, blooming sporadically during that time. The African violet and goldfish plant will essentially bloom year-round, but may take breaks after heavy blooms to recover. They are known for their tubular flowers with two lobes on top and three on the bottom. These flowers come in many colors, including purple, pink, red, yellow, orange, and even blue.