Streptocarpus ionanthus
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) Care Guide
Featured photosaintpaulia-ionantha.jpgSaintpaulia ionantha, now formally Streptocarpus ionanthus, is the African violet — a Tanzanian rosette plant with fuzzy oval leaves and clusters of small five-petalled flowers in violet, pink, white, or bicolours. It has been one of the most-grown indoor flowering plants since the 1930s and produces blooms almost year-round when given consistent care. It is reliably non-toxic and one of the safest pet-friendly choices.
Care facts at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Water when the top 2 cm of mix has dried; bottom-water through saucer is preferred.
- Humidity
- 40–60 %
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C
- Soil
- Light, peat-rich African violet mix with perlite.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic. (humans) · Non-toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA African Violet listing. (pets)
- Origin
- Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania.
- Mature size
- 10 to 20 cm tall and wide.
Overview
Saintpaulia ionantha was reclassified into Streptocarpus in 2012, but the trade and most growers still use the older Saintpaulia name. The species is critically endangered in the wild but ubiquitous in cultivation thanks to thousands of cultivars.
Care Priorities
- Bright filtered light, never direct sun.
- Bottom-water through a saucer to keep leaves dry.
- Steady warmth above 18 °C.
- Use African violet specific feed; standard houseplant feed has too much nitrogen.
Common Problems
No flowers usually means too little light or wrong feed. Crown rot is from overhead watering. Yellow leaves with brown rings are usually water-spot damage.
Sources & further reading (3)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-28
- botanical-garden — accessed 2026-04-28
- toxicity-database — accessed 2026-04-28
Frequently asked questions
Why is my African violet not flowering?
Most often: too little light. African violets need bright filtered light for 10 to 14 hours a day to bloom reliably. A grow light is often the easiest fix.
Saintpaulia or Streptocarpus?
Botanically Streptocarpus ionanthus since the 2012 reclassification. Trade still uses Saintpaulia universally.
How do I propagate from a leaf?
Cut a leaf with about 2 cm of petiole, insert in moist mix, and small plantlets emerge from the petiole base within weeks.
