2024: The Year of the African Violet

African Violet/Saintpaulina Lonantha

The National Garden Bureau has set 2024 as the year of the African violet. African violets are beautiful flowering houseplants that have vivid blooms in purple, white, blue or pink. The velvety leaves can be a deep green or variegated. They are native to the tropical rain forests in Africa, hence their name. They are a fun, beautiful plant that is non-toxic.

The African Violet is easier to care for that you might think!

Light requirements: medium to bright shaded light. Direct sun will burn the leaves and/or flowers.

Soil: they grow best in well-draining light and slightly acidic soil like Fertilome African Violet soil.

Watering: Water once a week when the soil dries out. Bottom watering is best with this plant, so make sure your pot has drainable holes.

Feeding: Feed with African violet fertilizer every 4 weeks during their growing period, spring to fall. We recommend Schultz or Fertilome African violet fertilizer tailored for your blooming plant. Avoid fertilizing in the winter.

Fun African Violet facts:

They are native to Eastern Africa, more specifically the high altitude cloud forests of Tanzania. They are lithophytes, meaning they grow on the surface of rocks.

While there are only about 20 species of African Violets, there have been over 20,000 varieties that have been bred according to the African Violet Society of America.

If cared for correctly, and African violet can have a lifespan of up to 50 years, and can reach sizes of 16 inches in diameter, with the largest recorded diameter being 37 inches!

Jackson Distelrath and Rachel Blodgett, Wedel’s Houseplant Aficionados