The African violet, Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia ionantha encompasses countless cultivars ranging from miniatures, that can be very useful in the terrarium and vivarium to standards that would only work in the very largest enclosures. There are also a few species available that can be useful.
I am giving these plants their own section, because they are also wonderful houseplants, and probably enjoyed more often that way. But I use them often enough in my vivariums that I still wanted to include them on this website. Obviously I will only barely scratch the surface of the many cultivars available, and that doesn’t even touch the countless “NOID’s” (unidentified cultivar) that are still very lovely, and very inexpensive, that can be picked up at any big box or grocery store. The two in my BiOrb, above, are just little “grocery store” miniatures, but they have been a delight in there, blooming over and over again! So do not turn your nose up at these inexpensive beauties just because they are unnamed!
The plants listed below are those named cultivars in my own collection.
Aca’s Libbie
Aca's Libbie (8623) 06/16/1997 (J. Brownlie) “Single-semidouble light pink sticktite pansy/red sparkle edge. Variegated green, pink and white, plain, quilted. Semiminiature”
You can see, it is not “light pink” for me, but very pretty!
AE Chimera of Destiny
(AE Khimera Sud'by) Very unusual! Large sdbl. variable orchid stars, white puffs throughout, ringed in dark orchid-purple, then edged in white. Medium green foliage. Standard. (Arkipov)
AE Mirror of Destiny
(AE Zerkalo Sud'by) Stunning, dark orchid-purple sdbl. stars, with white fantasy puffs, broadly edged in bright white. Medium green foliage. Standard. (Arkipov)
AE Sharlene Nostalgia
(AE Sharlene Nostagie) Double white blooms with orchid-lavender thumbprints spotted purple fantasy. Medium green standard foliage. (Arkipov)
Aly’s Rosy Baby
(Droege) Semidouble rose flowers. Dark pointed leaves. Miniature trailer
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Ann
Double rose-pink frilled two-tone, with darker eye, edge. Pointed, ruffled, TL variegated foliage. Standard. (B.Bryant 1987) Vintage, AVSA #6649
Blueberries n Cream
Blueberries 'n' Cream (6415) 11/05/1986 (P. Harris) Double dark blue. Variegated bright green and white, glossy, pointed. Miniature trailer
Blue Dragon
This magnificent variety flaunts semidouble and double large stars of light blue, accented by a dark blue center. Striking bands of light, reddish-purple surround each frilly edged blossom, randomly marked in variable, light green. Flowers look best when grown cool! Large, dark green foliage. AVSA Reg. #9516 P Sorano 12/17/2005
Blue Tail Fly
Bleu Lorraine (J. Eyerdom) Double blue-lavender/darker shaded eye,. wasp. Bustle-back. Standard.
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Damascus Rose
АВ-Дамасская Роза (AV-Damascus Rose) 2019. Blossom: Large double lilac ruffled stars with green/white edges. Foliage: Medium green, serrated, slightly wavy.
Da Vinci
Large standard bicolor 'Da Vinci' 1995 Holtkamp (Optimara)
Revised in 2001 - ASVA # 8319
Dew’s Comet Tail
Dew's Comet Tail - 2022 (L. Huang) Blossom- Single white star with purple eye, bright pink puff fantasy, and subtle light purple or pink center strip. Foliage - Medium green, pointed. Standard chimera. Sport of RS-Comet / РС-Комета
Dew’s Gooseberries
2024 Blossom - Double white star with variable pink chimera stripe. Foliage - Medium green, serrated. Semiminiature chimera.
Sport of Kentucky Gooseberries
This violet just blooms non-stop for me!!!
Dew’s Ruby
2025 (L. Huang) Double pink frilled star with darker eye. Mosaic variegated medium green and white, plain, quilted. Standard. Sport of Watermelon Snow
This unique sport features the foliage of Watermelon Snow and the blooms of Rose Bouquet. Variegation is temperature dependent.
Dn-Color Zabahanky
Dn-Кольорові Забаганки (D. Denysenko, Ukraine)
DN Kaleidoscope
Dn-Kaleidoscope 2023 (D. Denysenko, Ukraine) Blossom- huge single blue star with white and pink puff fantasy. Foliage - Variegated white and ark green, pointed. Standard.
DN New Star
(D. Denysenko, Ukraine) Blossom- Huge single white stars with a blue eye of variable size. Foliage - Dark green, pointed. Standard.
Note: The size the blue eye changes in different growing conditions.
DN Peaceful Night
DN Tykhoj Nochi
Dresden Doll
(7259) 11/24/1989 (P. Harris) Double pale pink. Medium green, heart-shaped, pointed. Standard trailer
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
DS Shining Blue Bell
(I. Nicholson) Blossom - Hot pink with blue pinwheel strips. Small standard. Sport of DS-Shining Bell. A stunning standard chimera. In cool temperatures, the blooms develop a white eye.
DS Pinka
DS-Пинка
Standard chimera. Bright pink bell-shaped flowers with wavy edges of petals, with a white eye and blue chimeric stripes along which small strokes of pink fantasy. Compact, even rosette of medium-green leaves.
Edge of Darkness
Extremely dark purple semidouble stars with thin white, slightly fringed, edge. Dark green and white, red-backed, TL variegated leaves. Standard. (Sorano, LL)
Ellie Gardner
(P. Harris) (7261) 11/24/1989 Double bright pink two-tone wavy. Variegated, plain. Standard trailer
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Frozen Bells
Semiminiature Single white sticktite (non-dropping) wasp styled bell blossoms with distinctive green stripes (almost a fantasy pattern). Medium green, variegated , plain foliage. (T. Golovchenko )
Variety Note: This is thought to be a sport (mutation) of Frozen in Time (S. Sorano)
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Gene’s Blue Ice
Semidouble to double blue and white large blue edge. Variegated medium green and white, ovate, quilted, glossy. Semi Miniature Trailer. AVSA Reg. #7427 (Lloyd)
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Honey Blue Ace
Hybridizer: Hortense Pittman
Semiminiature, Wisteria blue blossoms edged in white. Very dark green, tailored, pointed foliage.
Honky Tonk Blues
(LLG/P.Sorano) (9526) 12/17/2005 Purple, single stars, with heavily fluted edges. A great bloomer! Blooms have violet-red iridescence on the flower face. The semiminiature foliage is medium green, quilted, and serrated.
Hunter’s Dew Drops
Sdbl. pink pansies with lots of white puff fantasy. Round, dark, red-backed foliage. A larger growing semiminiature. Very unusual bloom, good bloomer, fairly stable. (Muzalewski)
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Hunter’s Pew Pew
Semidouble bright pink stars with striking white fantasy spotches. Medium green, standard foliage. Lovely plant, easy grower and bloomer.
Hunter’s Watch Her Strut
Large full double (almost triple) purple with white mottling. Medium green, tailored, pointed girl foliage. Miniature.
Hunter’s Whitetail Fawn
(11244) 07/17/2019 (K. Muzalewski) Semidouble-double white and blue pansy/darker eye. Medium green, pointed. Miniature, Jolly Orchid x Jolly Pepper
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Ian Pasha
(10109) 08/07/2009 (N. Puminova) Semidouble pale pink wavy star/light lavender-blue fantasy. Medium green, quilted, scalloped. Semiminiature (Russ/Ukr)
Jersey Starlight Trail
AVSA #10671 (Kurzynski) Beautiful trailer, Sdbl. creamy-white pansies with pink eye. Green and cream variegated foliage (variegation best when grown cool). Semiminiature trailing foliage.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Jolly Joy
1/15/07 H. Pittman Single-semi-double pink pansy. Dark green plain quilted leaves. TX Hyb, DAVS 1654
Jolly Marvel
Jolly Marvel (H.Pittman) #10457 (11/21/201) Single-semidouble coral ruffled pansy. Crown variegated medium green and cream. Semiminiature.
(Photo from Google. Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Jupiter’s Joy
Semidouble white with fuchsia markings. Light green, plain foliage. Semiminiature. (DAVS 1390) AVSA Reg. #8044 (Pittman)
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
LE Kotenok Miau (Kitten’s Meow)
Miniature. Bright green foliage, bell shaped single lavender blossoms.
LE - Mint Coolness
Hybridizer: E. Lebetskaia
Large white pansy with large purple eye. Medium green, quilted foliage. Semiminiature
LE-Rein (River Rhine)
Cute! Small, pale blue bells adorn this prolific grower. Miniature. (E. Lebetskaia)
LE Whipped Cream
ЛЕ-Взбитые Сливки химера - Hybridizer: E. Lebetskaia, standard chimera.
Mine seems to be a sport. It is beautiful, but it is supposed to be a red and white striped chimera. It’s really pretty, though, and up close has very thin red stripes.
LiK-Tverskie Uzory (Tver Patterns)
Double pink, large ruffled flower with blue fantasy. Medium green, pointed, and serrated. Standard.
AVSA Reg. #11069
(G. Lazarenko)
Little Blue Bandit
Small, dark blue, single and semidouble stars, which are slightly cupped. This variety has a good bloom count. The foliage is heart shaped, and dark green with a red reverse. AVSA Reg. #10409 (LLG)
Little Bo Peep
(Storytella) Single light pink Pansy. Girl foliage. Miniature. Little Bo Peep.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Little Chippery Trail
Little Chippery Trail (7665) 01/31/1992 (Armstrong/Domiano) Double dark fuchsia star. Medium green, pointed. Miniature trailer (DAVS 1342)
Lituanika
Description from Plantaria website: “Very popular retro variety created by Lithuanian hybridizer Fatina Bütiené. It blooms with rather big (up to 5 cm / 2”) super-double soft pink dahlia-shaped flowers with elongated petals and dark-pink tips. Elongated serrated plane pointed leaves. Semi-miniature trailer. It can be also grown in bigger pots as a small standard with 1 rosette or a standard trailer with several rosettes.” (for me this is growing as a clear trailer)
LL Lemon Burst
Double white stars with a heavy yellow blush and a fringed green edge. Great bloom count. A large standard grower, that shapes well, is lightly quilted, medium green and slightly serrated. AVSA Reg. #9531
Mac’s Flamboyant Flame
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Mac’s Walkabout Uluru
(G. McDonald) (10515) 02/02/2012 Single-semidouble pink pansy. Crown variegated medium green, white, and pink, clackamas. Miniature
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
ND First Year
(ND Pervokisshka) Double pink stars with blue fantasy and wide white edge. Green and white TL variegated foliage. Standard.
Ness’ Crinkle Blue
#8136(01/19/1995) Double dark blue star/thin white edge. Dark green, quilted, serrated/red back. Semiminiature. (D. Ness)
(Photo from Google. Will be replaced when mine blooms)
N - Kiurasao
(N - Curacao)
Semiminiature, Full double light purple blossoms are streaked with white fantasy. VERY dark green, variegated foliage.
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
NK Strawberry Cupcake
NK- Strawberry Cupcake/ НК-Клубничный Капкейк (Н. Козак)
Blossom - Semidouble dark coral. Foliage - Medium green and cream, crown variegation. Semiminiature.
NK-Strawberry Cupcake Sport
Blossom - Semidouble light coral. Foliage - light green and cream, crown variegation. Semiminiature.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Norton’s Elaine
Hybridizer: J. Norton
Semiminiature, Single sticktite (non-dropping) purple pansy with a distinctive white chimera stripe. Dark green, slightly serrated and wavy girl foliage.
Variety Origin: This is a sport (mutation) of Baby Jay (M. Gall)
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
N - Sonnaya Loshchina (N - Sleepy Hollow)
Single to semidouble blue stars with white geneva edge. Dark green, serrated girl foliage. Miniature. Russian hybridizer N. Berdnikova
Ola Nefertiti’s Bracelet
OлА-Браслет Нефертити
Standard leaf chimera, leaves have lighter green centers with darker green edges. Flowers are very double, lavender, lighter in the middle, darker toward the edges.
Optimara Little Crystal
super miniature, Semi-double White blooms, Plain Medium green leaves. Introduced in 1990 AVSA # 7350 Patent Number: 7133
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Optimara Little Hopi
Hybridizer: Holtkamp (Optimara)
Semiminiature, Large pink sticktite (non-dropping) pansy blossoms with dark purple fantasy splashes and specks. Dark green, pointed foliage.
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Optimara Modesty
Hybridizer: Holtkamp (Optimara Greenhouses)
Standard, Large ruffled dark purple blossoms adorn dark green, light serrated, variegated foliage.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Pearl Delight
Blossom: Semi-double pale pink, with delicate freckles of blue fantasy.
Foliage: Light green with white edge, pointed glossy foliage. Semiminiature leaf chimera trailer. Sport of Rob's Boolaroo
Pixie Runaround Sport
Single pinwheel bells of blue with wide center white stripes. Medium green and white variegated foliage. Mini chimera trailer.
(Photo from Google, will be replaced when mine blooms)
Plum Pixie
(C. Sotkiewicz) Semidouble purple bell. Miniature trailer.
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Rhapsodie Angelica
11/19/1998 (Holtkamp) Single light salmon-pink blossoms. Leaves are medium green, ovate, pointed, glossy, hairy. Standard,
Rivermist Oohlala
Rivermist Oohlala is not a true chimera, but does have stripes about 70% of the time. Yet some blooms may have the stripes on a few blooms, while others do not…
(photo from Google will be replaced by my own later)
Rob’s Boolaroo
“Sparkling double light pink, heavily peppered with blue fantasy.” Constant and heavy bloomer. Semiminiature trailer. AVSA #8053”
Another prolific bloomer for me
Rob’s Boondoggle
(R. Robinson) (7880) 06/02/1993 Semidouble dark red sticktite star/wide white ruffled edge. Dark black-green, wavy, serrated/red back. Semiminiature (AVML)
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Rob’s Cherry Soda
Sdbl. rose pansies speckled with dark rose-red fantasy. Dark variegated miniature foliage. Very heavy bloomer. AVSA #8055
Rob’s Cool Fruit
(AVSA #8608) 05/31/1997 (R. Robinson) Double white pansy/rose-pink edge. Crown variegated medium green, white and yellow, pointed, serrated. Semi-miniature.
Rob’s Ice Ripples
(8610) 05/31/1997 (R. Robinson) Semidouble white ruffled star/wide medium blue edge. Medium green, glossy, wavy, serrated. Miniature
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Rob’s Jindalee
Double, medium to dark blue sticktite pansy with variable white mottled tips. Medium green, pointed, serrated. Semiminiature trailer. (R. Robinson) Jan 16, 2018
Rob’s Scrumptious
“Large sdbl. deep pink thumbprint stars with white center and borders. Cream, white, and green, round, variegated foliage. Small semiminiature. AVSA #9466”
Rob’s Squeeze Toy
Shockingly deep, almost florescent, coral semidouble blooms. Dark green and gold variegated foliage. Beautiful colors. Semiminiature. AVSA #9129
Rob’s Vanilla Trail
Semi-miniature trailer
Super fast growing, hardy and prolific bloomer. Hard not to love.
Scales
Scales. (E. Lebetskaya) 2018. Blossom: Delicate sky blue semi-double and double flowers. Foliage: Pink-platinum crown variegation. Semiminiature. (AVSA)
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Sergent Pepper
(S. Sorano) Semidouble medium pink frilled pansy/blue fantasy; red sparkle and edge. Variegated medium green and creamy white. Standard
Shirl's Hawaiian Lei
Shirl's Hawaiian Lei (9372) 09/30/2004 (S. Sanders) Single purple pansy/white eye. Variegated medium green and white, heart-shaped. Miniature (TX Hyb) This cultivar is temperature/season sensitive. It will bloom pure white in cool growing conditions.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Shirl's Red Sky
Growth type: Miniature; Flower: Single deep pink/red pansy with white eye; Foliage: Dark green, variegated, pointed; Hybridiser: S Sanders, AVSA #9374
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)
Shy Blue
Fantastic, double blooms of light blue, enhance the dark green foliage, nicely variegated in white. This variety grows with excellent symmetry and is a constant bloomer. AVSA Reg. #7989 (LLG)
But… Many people find that it is hard to get in bloom and variegation comes and goes!
(Photo from Ottowa AVS - Will be replaced when mine flowers!)
Sky Jems
miniature African violet cultivar known for its simple, wavy, purple star-shaped flowers and distinctly variegated "girl" type foliage.
(Photo from Google, will be replaced when mine blooms)
SK First Love
(SK Pervaya Lyubov) Microminiature with profuse deep fuchsia-red semidouble bells. Very tiny, glossy, dark green and red-backed foliage. Miniature. (Kuznetsov)
SM Letnie Sumerki
(SM Summer Twilight)
Летние Сумерки (10082) 08/07/2009 (K. Morev) Double lavender-violet large/white eye, edge. Variegated medium green and white, plain. Standard
Stormy Rage
Double stars of dark blue are eye-catching above dark green foliage, variegated in pink and cream tones. AVSA Reg. #9199 (LLG)
Photo from Ottawa AVS. Will be replaced when mine blooms.
Sun Sizzle
Sun Sizzle (S. Sorano) 2012 (SAVA #2012-041) Standard - Large, medium green, quilted foliage Single to semi-double large fuchsia star with a white wavy edge
Toy Castle
Hybridizer: Lyndon Lyon
Semiminiature, Double white and lilac-purple pansy blossoms adorn the very dark green, white variegated foliage.
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Vallerta Campanas Moradas
(G.Beck) Single dark purple bell. Dark green/red back. Miniature trailer.
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
VAT Star Race
VaT Star Race (T. Valkova)
Standard - variegated medium green, cream and pink foliage. Blooms large, sticktite deep purple star with pink fantasy spots and frilly white edge
ZSX Chimes At Midnight
The description on the Dew Violet website when I bought it was: “Single white star with light blue thumbprints splashed with pink puff fantasy markings. Foliage - Medium green. Miniature.”
But for me, it is more violet than white. But still very, very pretty, and a charming little plant!
Watermelon Bay
(9203) (Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses/Sorano) Semidouble blue-purple star/white frilled edge. Dark green, pointed, pebbled/red back.. Semiminiature
(Photo from Google - Will be replaced when mine blooms)
Teeny Bopper
Single purple, bell shaped flower. Pointed, tiny. Miniature trailer. (vintage) AVSA Reg. #5017 (LLG)
Vi Butterfly Parade
semiminiature, simple, wasp style blossoms atop nicely shaping dark green variegated girl foliage.
(Photo from Google - will be replaced when mine blooms)