This herbaceous perennial from the Gesneriaceae (African violet) family is commonly grown as a houseplant. It needs lots of bright, indirect light and well-drained potting soil. Flowers are solitary and usually red, pink and orange. There are many cultivators available with various colored leaves and flowers. They are very attractive in hanging baskets and have a creeping habit. Water moderately to keep the soil moist in the summer and seldom in the winter. They need high humidity but do not tolerate water on their leaves. They do well in a greenhouse setting or terrariums also. Quick ID Hints : Flowers are solitary, red to orange, funnel-shaped Stems are creeping, stoloniferous, hirsute Leaves are decussate, with pale midribs & purple undersides Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : Insect pests include aphids, mealybugs. Fungal leaf spots, stem blights, and root rots occasionally occur. Leaves scorch in full direct sun; dieback occurs if too much water or too little air circulation, leaf margins turn brown from low humidity and too dry conditions
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Orange; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Oval green, up to 4 inches long, with undersides flecked with copper and purple. Opposite, simple, decussate, ovate, acute, cordate to rotund, slightly bullate, dark green with paler midrib, purple underneath. Grows in a rosette from which lateral runners grow.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Funnel; Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Crimson red to orange with yellow throat, blooms seasonally. Solitary, red to orange, to 2.5 inches long; corolla salverform, villous, spurred at the base, and 5-lobed.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Short hairy stems and reddish to green stolons that readily root