African Violet Houseplant Be Different

For those who may yearn to grow house plants a bit different from those of their friends and neighbors, African-violets provide a splendid opportunity as there are countless varieties from which to choose. New and enticing ones appear in specialists catalogs each year so that the hobby of collecting need never become static.

The larger commercial African-violet growers maintain inventory of hundreds of varieties. Each grower’s stock, however, is constantly changing as newer and better varieties take the place of older ones. lt would be impossible to determine just how many different African-violets there are, but the number probably runs into the thousands.

You may wish to select your varieties on the basis of flower color. Violet and purple shades are perhaps the most popular, but they are greatly enhanced by lighter colored blossoms nearby. There are blues, pinks and whites in varying shades. Some of the burgundy and other near-red shades are very attractive. There are many bicolors, with two easily distinguishable colors on the same flower. This second color may appear on the petal edge, as a stripe or band, as flecks, or as a deeper or lighter color towards the flower center or on some of the petals.

Doubles

There are doubles in most colors, although there are not as many varieties as in the standard five-petal singles. Size of flower is another interesting variation, ranging from 1/2 inch to nearly 2 inches.

Supreme & Girl Types

One of the most interesting variations and the one least recognized by a casual observer is the leaf structure. Here the differences are quite marked, and when you become familiar with your varieties you will often be able to name a variety from leaf characteristics alone. There are those with large, heavy textured leaves which have become known as the “supreme” types.

Then there is the “girl” type leaf typified by the pale green or white marking at the base of the leaf. (The word “girl” as used in this case has nothing to do with the sex of the plant.) Some leaves are quite hairy, others are quite smooth; some are almost round, others considerably longer than they are wide. There are waxy leaves that reflect brilliantly and some are quite dull. A few have curled-up edges which form a perfect “spoon,” while others have leaves that are quite flat; some leaves are smooth edged, but others are heavily scalloped.

The coloration of the leaves varies considerably. Some have rather light green leaves, and from there hues vary all the way to those that are so dark they are nearly black. The backs of the leaves also differ. In some plants the underside is very pale green, whereas others are almost red.

African violets offer much in the way uniqueness in house plants for everyone to grow something special.