# African violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus (syn. Saintpaulia ionantha))

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/african-violet · Updated: 2026-10-07
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/african-violet)

African violet · also called Saintpaulia, Kenya violet  
indoor · exotic · family Gesneriaceae · grows 0.1–0.25 m tall, 0.15–0.3 m wide · slow growth  
part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 1 · salt 1 · drought 1 · shade 3 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov  
Uses: indoor, container

A small, fuzzy-leaved flowering plant that can bloom in any season in bright, filtered light. Non-toxic to pets (ASPCA), but it dislikes dry air, draughts and wet leaves, so it needs a gravel tray and a calm shelf.

## About

Meet African violet, the little plant that flowers on a shelf. A low rosette of soft, fuzzy, rounded leaves carries clusters of purple, blue, pink or white blooms, and NC State Extension says it can flower in spring, summer, autumn and winter. For a flat with no garden it is a cheap, compact way to get colour indoors.

It is also a plant of routine. The RHS says it needs at least ten hours of light and eight hours of darkness a day for sustained flowering, steady 18 to 24°C by day and 16°C at night all year, and water at room temperature that never touches the leaves. A Dubai flat is good at the temperature, because households in one study held their air conditioning between 18 and 26°C. It is poor at humidity, and the RHS says African violets dislike dry air.

Treat it as a desk or shelf companion: a bright windowsill behind a sheer curtain, a saucer of damp gravel under the pot, and no misting.

African violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus, long sold as Saintpaulia ionantha) is a small rosette plant in the gesneriad family, Gesneriaceae. The RHS says African violets were moved into the genus Streptocarpus but the old name is still widely used. NC State gives 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm) tall and wide, and says mature plants take two to five years.

Light: the RHS says to keep it out of direct sun, especially in summer, or to filter it with a thin curtain, and that low light can reduce or stop flowering. NC State says bright, filtered light. In Dubai that means a windowsill behind a sheer curtain or a desk well inside a bright room, not hot glass in summer and not a dim shelf.

Water when the surface of the compost is dry, using room-temperature water poured onto the compost, or stand the pot in a tray of water for half an hour, and avoid wetting the leaves (RHS). Overwatering is the main problem (NC State). Do not mist: the RHS says it marks the leaves and encourages mildew. Low humidity can stop flowering and slow growth (RHS), so stand the pot on damp gravel with the water level below the surface, or run a humidifier in the room.

Feed with a dilute liquid houseplant feed every three to four weeks in spring and summer, or an African-violet feed (RHS). Repot every two to three years in spring into a pot no more than 10 cm wide. A leaf cutting makes a baby plant in about four to five weeks (RHS).

## Indoors in Dubai

- **Light:** grows well in medium–bright indirect light. Bright, filtered light, out of direct sun: a sill behind a sheer curtain, or a desk near a window. It needs about ten hours of light a day to keep flowering (RHS). Keep it off hot summer glass.
- **Dry air and air conditioning:** tolerance 2 out of 5 (1 = needs humidity help, 5 = indifferent). AC temperatures of 18 to 24°C suit it, but dry air does not. Stand it on damp gravel, keep it out of vents and draughts, and never mist: the RHS says it marks the leaves and encourages mildew.
- **Pets:** pet-safe: not toxic to cats or dogs on the ASPCA list.
- **Size:** tabletop.
- **Rooms:** home office, bedroom, kitchen, living room.
- **Finding it in Dubai:** specialist: look in specialist plant shops and larger garden centres.
- **Outdoors:** never: keep it indoors all year.

## Through the year

African violet can flower on and off all year when it has enough light (NC State lists all four seasons), so its calendar is about care rather than a bloom window. Feed every three to four weeks in spring and summer (RHS). In the hot months, from about June to September, keep it off hot glass, because the RHS says to keep it out of direct sun, especially in summer. Through the air-conditioning season, from about May to October, humidity is the issue: low humidity can stop flowering and slow growth (RHS). In winter, watch for cold draughts near windows and balcony doors; NC State says temperatures below 60°F (15.6°C) cause stunting, and the airport's average January night minimum is 15.3°C. October to November and February to April are the months to buy and pot up.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov | Plant: Buy and pot up | Cooler months, so the plant is not carried home in summer heat. The RHS says to repot every two to three years in spring. |
| all year | Flowers: Can flower all year | It needs about ten hours of light and eight hours of darkness a day (RHS). |
| Mar–Sep | Feed: Feed every 3 to 4 weeks | The RHS says a dilute liquid feed in spring and summer. |
| Apr–Oct | Pest watch: Check for mealybugs and thrips | The RHS lists aphids, mealybugs and thrips among its pests. |
| Jun–Sep | Heat stress: Hot glass and dry AC air | Keep it out of direct sun and away from the vent; low humidity can stop flowering. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Water when the surface of the compost is dry. Pour room-temperature water onto the compost, not the leaves, or stand the pot in a tray of water for half an hour (RHS). Overwatering is the main problem (NC State).
- **Watering in winter:** Follow the same rule: wait until the surface is dry, which may take longer in cooler weather. The RHS wants 18 to 24°C by day and 16°C at night all year, so keep it away from cold glass and draughts.
- **Soil:** A light, free-draining compost. The RHS suggests a 2:1 mix of John Innes No 2 compost and fibrous peat substitute such as coir; NC State says drainage is essential and the crown should sit above the surface.
- **Feeding:** A dilute liquid houseplant feed every three to four weeks in spring and summer, or a feed made for African violets (RHS).
- **Pruning:** Snip off spent flowers, and when the last flower on a stem has faded remove the whole stem at its base (RHS). Remove dead or yellowed leaves regularly (NC State).
- **Planting:** Repot every two to three years in spring into a pot only slightly larger than the rootball, no more than 10 cm across (RHS), keeping the crown above the compost (NC State). Leaf cuttings give new plants in about four to five weeks (RHS).
- **Pests and problems:** Mealybugs; Thrips; Aphids
- **Toxicity:** Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA (Saintpaulia spp.). As with any plant, eating a lot of foliage can still upset a stomach.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses on the ASPCA list
- Compact enough for a desk, shelf or windowsill
- Can flower in any season with bright light and steady care
- Easy to multiply from a single leaf cutting (RHS)
- AC room temperatures of 18 to 24°C suit it

**Cons**
- Dislikes dry air, which can stop flowering and slow growth (RHS)
- Water on the leaves marks them, and mist invites mildew (RHS)
- Needs about ten hours of light a day to keep flowering (RHS)
- Overwatering is the main cause of failure (NC State)

## Common mistakes

- Misting it. The RHS says not to mist African violets, because it marks the leaves and encourages mildew and mould. Use damp gravel, grouping or a humidifier in the room.
- Wetting the leaves or watering with very cold water. The RHS says to avoid wetting any part of the plant and to use room-temperature water.
- Overwatering. NC State says it is the main problem; wait until the surface of the compost has dried.
- Putting it in low light and wondering why it will not flower. The RHS says low light can reduce or stop flowering and that it needs at least ten hours of light a day.
- Leaving it on a sunny sill in summer. The RHS says to keep it out of direct sun, especially in summer, and suggests a north- or east-facing sill from spring to autumn.

## Good to know

- The ASPCA lists African violet (Saintpaulia) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still upset a stomach.
- AC rooms held at 18 to 24°C match the RHS temperature range for this plant. The problems are dry air and draughts, not the temperature itself.
- A leaf cutting with its stalk makes a new plant in four to five weeks (RHS), so one plant can become several.
- On 7 October 2026 Plantsworld listed a 20 to 30 cm African violet from AED 35, backordered, and plantshop.me listed a 20 to 25 cm plant at AED 35, out of stock. Dubai Municipality's Warsan nursery also lists African violets, and sells indoor plants from about AED 2 to AED 60, Sunday to Thursday (Emirates 24|7, 13 May 2026). Stock and prices change.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Desk or shelf colour, Kitchen windowsill, Bedside shelf, Gift plant

Place African violet where you will see it and check it: a desk, a kitchen windowsill, a bedside shelf. It wants bright, filtered light, such as a windowsill behind a sheer curtain, with a saucer of damp gravel under the pot and room for air to move but not a vent's stream. Keep it off hot summer glass.

- [Nerve plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/nerve-plant.md): Nerve plant also wants moist air, so the two can share one wide gravel tray, and its veined leaves set off the violet's flowers. Both are non-toxic on the ASPCA list.
- [Prayer plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/prayer-plant.md): A low prayer plant gives the same humid-tray companion with patterned foliage, and it too is non-toxic on the ASPCA list.
- [Peperomia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peperomia.md): Peperomia's thick leaves cope with drier air than African violet, so it frames the group when the humidity drops.

## FAQ

**Why won't my African violet flower?**  
Usually light. The RHS says it needs at least ten hours of light and eight hours of darkness a day for sustained flowering, and that low light can reduce or stop it. Dry air can also stop flowering and slow growth, so check the humidity and keep it away from the vent.

**Can I mist my African violet in an air-conditioned room?**  
No. The RHS says misting marks the leaves and encourages mildew and mould. Stand the pot on damp gravel with the water level below the surface, group it with other plants, or run a humidifier in the room.

**How do I water an African violet?**  
Wait until the surface of the compost is dry, then use room-temperature water on the compost, or stand the pot in a tray of water for half an hour (RHS). Keep the leaves dry. Overwatering is the main problem (NC State).

**Is African violet safe for cats and dogs?**  
Yes. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still upset a stomach, so do not let a pet treat it as a snack.

**Does African violet suit a Dubai AC room?**  
The temperature suits it: the RHS wants 18 to 24°C by day and 16°C at night, which is where many AC rooms sit. The dry air and vent draughts do not suit it, so give it a damp-gravel tray and a spot out of the airflow.

## Related plants

[Nerve plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/nerve-plant.md) · [Prayer plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/prayer-plant.md) · [Peperomia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peperomia.md) · [Moth orchid](https://plantguide.ae/plants/moth-orchid.md) · [Spider plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/spider-plant.md)

## Photos

![Botanical specimen in the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, Copenhagen, Denmark.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Saintpaulia_ionantha_subsp._velutina_-_Copenhagen_Botanical_Garden_-_DSC07434.JPG)  
Photo: Daderot / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saintpaulia_ionantha_subsp._velutina_-_Copenhagen_Botanical_Garden_-_DSC07434.JPG))

![Gesneriaceae- African violet white;Herb,leaves fleshy, flowers white,multipetals.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Saintpaulia_ionanthus_hybrids_-1-R.M.Nagar-bengaluru-India.jpg)  
Photo: Yercaud-elango / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saintpaulia_ionanthus_hybrids_-1-R.M.Nagar-bengaluru-India.jpg))

![Botanical specimen. The University of Helsinki Botanical Garden at Kaisaniemi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Saintpaulia_ionantha_subsp._rupicola_-_Botanical_Garden_in_Kaisaniemi%2C_Helsinki_-_DSC03658.JPG)  
Photo: Daderot / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saintpaulia_ionantha_subsp._rupicola_-_Botanical_Garden_in_Kaisaniemi,_Helsinki_-_DSC03658.JPG))

![Streptocarpus ionanthus (as Saintpaulia ionantha)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Streptocarpus_ionanthus_%28as_Saintpaulia_ionantha%29_-_Curtis%27_121_%28Ser._3_no._51%29_pl._7408_%281895%29.jpg)  
Photo: Wikimedia contributor / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Streptocarpus_ionanthus_(as_Saintpaulia_ionantha)_-_Curtis%27_121_(Ser._3_no._51)_pl._7408_(1895).jpg))

## Sources

- [RHS: How to grow African violets](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/african-violets/growing-guide)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Streptocarpus ionanthus](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/streptocarpus-ionanthus/)
- [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — African Violet](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/african-violet)
- [Murtagh et al. (2022): Living with air-conditioning in Dubai, Chongqing and London — Buildings & Cities](https://journal-buildingscities.org/articles/10.5334/bc.147)
- [Climate of Dubai (airport 1991-2020 normals, via content/climate.json): Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Plantsworld: African violet (price and stock, checked 7 October 2026)](https://plantsworld.ae/products/african-violet)
- [plantshop.me: African violets (price and stock, checked 7 October 2026)](https://www.plantshop.me/ae-en/product/african-violets)
- [Emirates 24|7: Dubai Municipality's Warsan Nursery (13 May 2026)](https://www.emirates247.com/uae/dubai-municipalitys-warsan-nursery-sells-plants-from-50-fils-heres-what-you-can-buy/1573)